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Lawyer of Vitsyebsk doctor placed in compulsory psychiatric care to appeal the ruling

The lawyer of doctor Ihar Pastnow who was sent by a judge to a mental health hospital for compulsory treatment plans to appeal the ruling, human rights defender Leanid Svetsik told BelaPAN.

Judge Tatsyana Dzehtsyarova of the Vitsyebsk District Court ruled on Wednesday that Ihar Pastnow should receive mental health care in the regional psychiatric and addiction treatment center.

Mr. Pastnow, who has been staying in the hospital since August 16, spoke to his lawyer for two hours on Thursday.

"An appeal and other documents needed for the regional court to review the case will be prepared in the near future," said Mr. Svetsik.

The rights defender also denied an earlier report that Mr. Pastnow had gone on hunger strike to protest his placement in psychiatric care. In fact, the doctor has been taking food but has refused to talk to the hospital's personnel, Mr. Svetsik said.

Mr. Pastnow, a pediatrician and psychiatrist, was placed in compulsory psychiatric care after posting his latest video appeal critical of authorities on the Internet.

In 2012, he spoke out about severe underfunding for the region's health institutions and accused Alyaksandr Kosinets, head of the regional government, of wasting public funds.