Front Line welcomes the news of the release of human rights defender Vadim Olsevich from psychiatric hospital on 4 July 2008. We will continue to monitor his situation in relation to the human rights work that he is carrying out. No further action required at present.
Further Information
Posted 04/07/2008 Front Line is gravely concerned following reports of the psychiatric hospitalisation of human rights defender Vadim Olsevich on 12 June 2008. Vadim Olsevich has been involved in the monitoring of conditions in hospitals for patients suffering from tuberculosis in Tashkent and the surrounding areas. Vadim Olsevich reported on his findings to members of the Alliance of Human Rights Defenders of Uzbekistan (PAU), a non-governmental organisation of which he is a member.
On 12 June 2008, Vadim Olsevich was transferred to Psychiatric Clinic Nº1 in Tashkent. While a patient at the Tuberculosis Hospital Nº2 in Tashkent he had been engaged in monitoring the conditions and standards of patient care in the hospital -including malnutrition and alleged negligent treatment ¬and reporting to members of PAU on such issues.
Prior to his transfer to the psychiatric unit, Vadim Olsevich had allegedly been threatened and insulted by physicians and been beaten by patients who had reportedly been paid to do so. According to reports, Vadim Olsevich is currently detained in Department 14 of Clinic Nº1, where he is being forced to take psychotropic medication, including aminazine and triftazine. He has no history of a psychiatric condition and was transferred to the hospital against his will.
It is believed that the psychiatric hospitalisation of Vadim Olsevich is directly related to his work in defence of human rights, in particular through his monitoring and reporting of alleged human rights violations in hospitals in the Tashkent region. Front Line believes that Vadim Olsevich's transfer to a psychiatric facility may form part of an ongoing campaign against human rights defenders in Uzbekistan and fears for his physical and psychological integrity.