By Mark Trevelyan and Lucy PapachristouLONDON (Reuters) – According to lawyers and human rights groups, dozens of Russians are undergoing involuntary psychiatric treatment due to their political beliefs, a practice that has reportedly increased since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict. This resembles the Soviet-era approach known as “punitive psychiatry,” although the current scale is not as extensive as seen in the past from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.Reuters conducted an analysis of data from an international expert and two Russian human rights organizations, interviewed three lawyers, and examined case documents of two female activists who were sent for psychiatric evaluations at a Siberian hospital by court order. These women, whose accounts are being disclosed in detail for the first time, were eventually released after a few weeks but described the experience as traumatic.One of the activists, Yekaterina Fatyanova, 37, was detained on April 28 last year at the KKPND No.1 psychiatric hospital in Krasnoyarsk for allegedly discrediting the Russian armed forces through an article published in a small opposition newspaper she managed. Despite not being the article’s author, which criticized the motives behind the war in Ukraine, she was subjected to distressing and unnecessary procedures during her hospitalization, including a gynecological examination, as stated in her letters of complaint reviewed by Reuters.Fatyanova was discharged on May 27 after doctors confirmed, in a document seen by Reuters, that she had no mental health disorders.”I believe that the actual reason for my placement there was to silence and isolate me from society, perhaps as a punishment for my active participation in civil affairs,” she expressed.Robert van Voren, a Dutch professor and human rights advocate with extensive experience studying the political misuse of psychiatry in Russia, has documented around 23 similar cases annually since 2022, following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, compared to an average of about 5 cases per year between 2015 and 2021. Requests for comment on the alleged political abuse of psychiatry from Russia’s justice ministry, human rights commissioner, and the Kremlin went unanswered. The Kremlin stated it refrains from discussing individual cases that are part of the criminal justice system, as those are under the court’s jurisdiction.Hospital KKPND No.1 did not provide a response when contacted for comment.”CONCERNING” TRENDDuring the Soviet era, numerous dissidents were institutionalized for their political beliefs, under the assumption that only those with mental illness would oppose the Communist regime. Prominent cases include dissident Vladimir Bukovsky and Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky. While the current situation is not as extensive, van Voren described the trend as “concerning” in an interview. Reuters has previously reported a resurgence of other Soviet-era tactics during the Ukraine conflict, such as civilians denouncing suspected dissidents.In most
Warning against the use of state-appointed psychiatrists in Russian court cases, experts suggest that such practices often result in decisions that align with the government’s agenda. In Russia, compulsory psychiatric treatment is being utilized for political purposes, echoing tactics used during the Soviet era. Human rights organization Memorial has identified 48 individuals currently undergoing such treatments in cases believed to be politically motivated. Most of these individuals are psychiatric inpatients, with a few receiving out-patient care while in prison. Many of the charges against them stem from criticizing the war, with some facing legal repercussions under censorship laws enacted after Russia’s invasion.
One case highlighted by Memorial involves a young person who was hospitalized for participating in anti-war activities as a teenager. Despite legal representation arguing that expressing anti-war sentiments does not indicate mental illness, the individual remains detained with their sanity questioned. This indefinite detention and stigmatization can have a severe impact on their well-being and perception of themselves.
In another instance, a journalist named Fatyanova reported being forcibly taken to a hospital by FSB officers and pressured to undergo treatment without informed consent. She later faced legal consequences for her work and was sentenced to forced labor. Complaints of inadequate living conditions and mistreatment at the hospital were raised, with some patients allegedly being deprived of basic amenities and subjected to disturbing disturbances.
The concerning trend of “punitive psychiatry” in Russia underscores the need to safeguard individuals’ rights and ensure that psychiatric assessments are conducted impartially and ethically in legal proceedings.
To come into effect, she stated, pending appeals.
While in the hospital, she crossed paths with Olga Suvorova, 56, a dedicated advocate for social and environmental causes. Suvorova revealed to Reuters that she too had undergone invasive and unnecessary tests at the facility, despite her refusal to sign a consent form like Fatyanova.
“This is punitive psychiatry,” Suvorova expressed in a phone interview. “The intention behind all of this is to discredit me, diminish my contributions… and tarnish my reputation to erode public trust in me.”
Official records indicate that Suvorova’s hospitalization was a result of a criminal inquiry claiming she falsely accused a police officer of assault in October 2023. Suvorova maintains that the officer mistreated her and supported her claim with a medical report showing bruising that necessitated wearing a sling for two weeks.
In December 2023, Suvorova was detained at Krasnoyarsk airport on charges related to the false accusation case upon her return from a meeting in Moscow with Yekaterina Duntsova, an opposition figure vying to challenge Putin in an election.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Suvorova was referred by an investigator for two outpatient psychiatric evaluations. A doctor’s report cited signs of a “mixed personality disorder” characterized by impulsive behavior and an “obsession with helping others.” Following further assessment, a court mandated Suvorova’s inpatient treatment at KKPND No.1 in May.
After voicing complaints about her treatment, Suvorova was discharged three weeks later with a medical document affirming no psychiatric disorder was present.
Suvorova acknowledged publicly cutting her arm during court appearances in 2021 and 2024, emphasizing that these actions were not intended to cause serious harm but to draw attention to injustices. She maintained that had there been genuine grounds to suspect a psychiatric illness, she would not have been released from the hospital.
Orphan Rights:
Ingvar Gorlanov, a 26-year-old orphan from Siberia, was first institutionalized in 2019 after staging a solo protest outside the presidential administration in Moscow, demanding a meeting with Putin regarding orphan rights, as per his lawyer, Alexei Pryanishnikov.
Following his detention by police, Gorlanov was taken to a hospital, and subsequently, a court ordered compulsory treatment. Since then, Gorlanov has been transferred to two other psychiatric facilities due to multiple arrests, according to Pryanishnikov. Despite being listed as a “terrorist and extremist” for various offenses, Gorlanov’s lawyer asserts that he poses no threat to himself or others and should be receiving therapy rather than inpatient care and antipsychotic medication.
Gorlanov, currently interned at a psychiatric institution in Novokuznetsk, has sporadically communicated with Reuters via text since July 15. He mentioned
Could you please provide the specific text that you would like me to rewrite?
