At least 84 political prisoners subjected to forced psychiatric treatment in Russia

Since 2022, at least 84 people imprisoned for political reasons in Russia have been subjected to forced psychiatric treatment, according to data from the human rights organisation OVD-Info. A report by the human rights project APUS titled "You Won't Get Out of Here" documents how Soviet-era punitive psychiatry practices have been revived. Particularly alarming are cases where detainees were restrained to beds for extended periods, resulting in necrosis and other severe health damage.

Russia has sent at least 84 political detainees to forced psychiatric treatment since 2022, according to data from human rights organisation OVD-Info. Over two years, a working group from the human rights project APUS prepared the report "You Won't Get Out of Here", which documents the use of punitive psychiatry in contemporary Russia.

Soviet practices revived?

The report's authors emphasise that while we cannot yet speak of a complete restoration of systematic Soviet-era punitive psychiatry, there is a clear trend. "Punitive psychiatric practices exist as one tool for punishing dissidents and other people who disturb the system. And this tool is being used increasingly," explains Olga, one of the report's co-authors.

The number of cases began rising even after 2014, but accelerated further following the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The victims predominantly have prior psychiatric diagnoses, which are exploited to justify their detention in closed facilities.

Horrors of Rostov tuberculosis hospital

One of the most documented cases in the report comes from the psychiatric ward of the Federal Penitentiary Service tuberculosis hospital in Rostov Oblast. Alexander Lyakh, the former deputy director of security and operational work at the hospital, instituted a systematic practice of restraining detainees to beds for extended periods. Officially, 43 people were recognised as victims, but the actual number is larger.

"People spent days and even months without any freedom of movement. They couldn't go to the toilet independently. They were poorly fed, orderlies tortured them, they were injected with powerful psychotropic drugs. At least two people died," Olga describes what happened.

In 2024, the court sentenced Lyakh to 7.5 years, psychiatric ward chief Daria Pozdnyakova to 6 years, and psychiatrist Anastasia Potorochina to 5 years in regular prison.

Stories of political prisoners

The report's authors highlight several specific examples. Maksim Lopkan, an 18-year-old Moscow activist detained in February 2023 following public anti-war activities, was deemed incompetent to stand trial following eight months in investigative detention and sent for forced treatment to the Yakovenko psychiatric hospital in Moscow Oblast.

Victoria Petrova, a St Petersburg resident, was sentenced in late 2023 to six months of psychiatric treatment at the Skvortsov-Stepanov hospital for "spreading false information" through anti-war posts on VKontakte. In August 2024, she was transferred to outpatient supervision.

Out-of-court decisions and indefinite terms

Particularly concerning is that the duration of forced treatment is not limited by law. The court only decides whether treatment is necessary, but when a person is released depends on a medical commission. Report co-author Arina explains: "People submit appeals, go through commissions, but receive the conclusion again that their condition is unstable and the public danger remains."

Additionally, hospital placement outside of court is theoretically possible through "voluntary consent", which can be particularly easily coerced from people in investigative detention who are subjected to pressure.

Consequences and social stigma

The experience of psychiatric treatment leaves long-term scars on people. After prolonged restraints, several detainees were unable to walk independently. One Rostov prisoner, who before detention was an exemplary student fluent in multiple languages, developed severe psychological disorders following bed restraint.

Former patients also describe problems finding employment, declining trust in doctors, courts and police, and social stigma. Many ask for their names to be omitted from the report, despite their stories being public.

The report's authors emphasise that unlike the Soviet system, this is not currently state-coordinated punitive psychiatry, but rather increasingly widespread and systematic abuse enabled by the opacity of closed facilities and the absence of independent oversight.