UN Experts Raise Alarm Over Alleged ‘Punitive Psychiatry’ Against Dissenters in Belarus

UN Experts Raise Alarm Over Alleged ‘Punitive Psychiatry’ Against Dissenters in Belarus

Forced psychiatric treatment is described as a threat to freedom of opinion, with concerns that medication and electric shocks could be used to control or diminish mental faculties.

RMN News Report

GENEVA – Independent human rights experts have voiced serious concerns about an alleged practice in Belarusian criminal courts involving the transfer of accused individuals to coercive psychiatric treatment. This practice is reportedly used in retaliation for their exercise of civil and political rights.

Since the political crisis around the 2020 presidential elections, reports indicate at least 33 individuals, including five women, have been transferred for such coercive psychiatric treatment because they expressed dissent with the authorities. The oldest known person subjected to this treatment is aged 77.

Experts warn that this highly irregular penalty could constitute inhuman or degrading punishment. The nature of the criminal charges brought against these individuals suggests that their prosecution and transfer to mental health institutions may violate civil and political rights, including the rights to freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.

Charges reportedly include:

• Participation in protests (article 342 of the Criminal Code).
• Insulting the President (article 368 of the Criminal Code).
• Insulting a representative of the authorities (article 369 of the Criminal Code).
• Terrorism (article 289 of the Criminal Code).
• Promoting extremist activities (article 361-4 of the Criminal Code).

Forced psychiatric treatment is described as a threat to freedom of opinion, with concerns that medication and electric shocks could be used to control or diminish mental faculties. Experts state that this is a direct attack on freedom of opinion, which is an absolute right that cannot be restricted under any circumstance.

The process leading to these transfers reportedly lacks transparency, raising serious doubts about whether transfers are medically or politically motivated. Trials culminating in transfers to mental hospitals have allegedly happened behind closed doors.

There is also concern about the fate of those transferred. Reportedly, individuals are held incommunicado in mental health institutions under the unrestricted power of the head physician. Unlike prisoners, they are deprived of liberty for indefinite periods and cannot request a pardon or release on parole.

According to reports received, eight persons transferred have been released, but at least 25 others remain incommunicado, with no information available about their fate or whereabouts, raising concerns about possible enforced disappearances.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has previously underscored that involuntary psychiatric treatment based on political beliefs or freedom of expression is a grave violation of human rights and international law.

Experts state that deploying psychiatric institutions as instruments of repression undermines the integrity of mental healthcare and erodes fundamental principles of justice and the rule of law. This practice, termed “punitive psychiatry,” violates the sanctity of human dignity enshrined in international human rights instruments.

Experts call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately ensure that these individuals can access legal counsel of their choosing and are provided with effective remedies to challenge their deprivation of liberty.

The experts have been in contact with the Government of Belarus regarding these issues.