Anti-Putin protestor sentenced to psychiatric care
Moscow (AsiaNews/Agencies) - A Russian court convicted a protester from last year's great anti-Putin demonstration in Moscow for taking part in a "riot", and sentenced him to mandatory psychiatric treatment. According to Russia' extra-parliamentary opposition, the verdict is a throwback to the days of the Soviet Union, when dissidents were interned as "mentally ill" and a "danger to society."
Mikhail Khosenko, 38, has been in jail for 16 months after the court remanded him into custody for the length of the investigation (later for the whole trial) because of his participation in the incidents that took place in Moscow's Balotnaya Square on 6 May 2012, which saw one of the largest anti-government demonstration in the Russian capital's history with clashes between demonstrators and police.
More than 600 people were arrested on that day with most released a few hours later. Twenty-five were charged for involvement in the riots and 12 have been in jail for months waiting for the end of their trial. All of them stand accused of participating in the riot and taking part in violent actions against the authorities.
For many people, including opponents and human rights activists, the "Balotnaya affair" is a ploy by the Kremlin to bully civil society and prevent new mass actions.
On 8 October, Moscow's Zamoskvoreci District Court convicted Khosenko, rejecting his lawyers' arguments. The latter had called for the charges against him be dismissed and their client released from psychiatric care, since he was not a threat to society.
Khosenko, who had a history of mental problems due to an injury suffered during military service, had been examined by doctors in 2003 and found harmless and not in need of hospitalisation. Nevertheless, his injuries had earned him a disability pension.
Khosenko's 2003 diagnosis was eventually revised by a new examination ordered by a court that argued for his placement in a mental hospital.
His supporters challenged unsuccessfully the new diagnosis, requesting another examination by the World Psychiatric Association. His defence lawyer promised to appeal the verdict.
Radio Liberty reported that the court did not impose a time frame on his treatment, which suggests that the internment could be indefinite.
Russia's independent media closely followed Khosenko's trial, reporting that the riot police officer who was allegedly attacked by him actually spoke up in his defence, despite being a prosecution witness.
The court also did not allow him to go to the funeral of his mother who died in September when he was in prison, arguing that his mental state could deteriorate.
In mid-September, in response to a question by an opposition politician, Putin did not rule out an amnesty for protesters who came out against him in late 2011 and mid-2012 when he returned to the Kremlin, on condition that their trials be completed first. (N.A.)
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