BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/03/2007

Belarusian Opposition Activist Accuses Doctors Of Forcing Her Into Mental Hospital

Opposition activist Krystsina Shatsikava has complained to the Mahilyou City Prosecutor's Office and the Mahilyou Regional Executive Committee over her kidnap-style detention, Belapan reported on March 28. On March 23, two days before a large opposition rally in Minsk, following her interrogation by KGB officers, Shatsikava was forced into a car in downtown Mahilyou and taken to a mental hospital where she was held until March 26. Her whereabouts were officially confirmed on March 25. Shatsikava told a news conference on March 28 that she is prepared to bring the medical staff of the mental hospital in Mahilyou to account over her detention. Shatsikava's mother, Svyatlana Shatsikava, spoke at the same news conference: "I will do everything possible to prevent these people from working as doctors. Why did not they tell me where my daughter was? Why did not they allow me to talk to her? Such actions do not come as a surprise when committed by police, but they are unacceptable for doctors." Human rights defender Valyantsin Stefanovich said Krystsina Shatsikava should go to court over the incident. "Under regulations [in force], a person may be put in a mental hospital under two conditions only -- if the person is under permanent medical observation or if he or she behaves aggressively. But in any case, this must be reported to relatives, which was not done," Stefanovich added. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/03/3-CEE/cee-290307.asp