RUSSIA: Putin critic forcibly detained in psychiatric hospital

[Tilly lavenas]

Dear friends

A Russian court in southwestern Siberia will soon consider whether to prolong the forcible psychiatric hospitalization of shaman Aleksandr Gabyshev. He has been arbitrarily declared “insane” and kept in a mental institution for his vocal criticism of President Vladimir Putin. 

Please send this letter, or in your own words, to the prosecutor with a copy to the ambassador. Thanks, Tilly & Guy


Prosecutor of Novosibirsk Oblast
Yakov Yevgenyevich Khoroshev
Ul. Kamenskaya, d. 20a 630099
Novosibirsk 
Russian Federation
Email: pocht...@nso.ru

Dear Prosecutor,

I am deeply concerned about the well-being of Aleksandr Gabyshev. He has been confined to a psychiatric hospital for an indefinite period of time because of his criticism of President Putin.

The Russian authorities are in violation of their obligations under international human rights law, including the rights to freedom of expression and association, and the right to a fair trial.

I urge you to release Aleksandr and ensure he isn’t persecuted for his peaceful activism.

Sincerely,

Please send a copy to the ambassador in your country:
HE Mr Andrei Kelin
Embassy of the Russian Federation
13 Kensington Palace Gardens
London, W8 4QX
ka...@rusemb.org.uk

HE Mr. Anatoly I. Antonov
Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20007
ruse...@mid.ru


For more information about Amnesty’s Urgent Action UA 98/21, 18 February 2022: https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/EUR4652502022ENGLISH.pdf