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Concerns Over Health Of Kazakh Lawyer In Psychiatric Clinic


The health of Kazakh lawyer Zinaida Mukhortova, who was forcibly put into a psychiatric clinic, is reportedly deteriorating.

Mukhortova's sister, Natalya Abent, told RFE/RL on July 25 that the lawyer has red eyes and is not able to properly move because her body is swollen.

Abent said her sister's health problems were caused by medication administered to her in the clinic.

Mukhortova was detained and placed in the clinic on July 2 after she had returned to Balkash from self-imposed exile in Russia.

Mukhortova, 56, fled Kazakhstan in December after a Qaraghandy regional court rejected her appeal to cancel her forced psychiatric treatment.

Mukhortova was forced to undergo psychiatric treatment twice in 2012 and 2013.

She insisted the legal actions against her were politically motivated.

Mukhortova said authorities investigated her mental competence only after she filed complaints against a high-ranking local official.

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