Belarusian Physician Says Getting Psychotropic Injections Against His Will

Belarus physician Ihar Pasnou (file photo)

MINSK -- A physician in the eastern Belarusian city of Vitsebsk, who was forcibly admitted into a psychiatric clinic, says he is being treated against his will and that his rights are being violated.

A Vitsebsk court sent Ihar Pasnou to a clinic last month after he posted video statements on YouTube criticizing local officials for poor health care.

An opposition activist in Belarus, Syarhey Ryzhou, managed to make an audio recording of Pasnou during a visit to the clinic. On the recording, Pasnou says that although the court ruling on his forced treatment has not yet come into force, as his legal appeals are continuing, he has been receiving psychotropic injections, with increasing dosages.

He says his forced treatment is a form of retaliation by authorities.

Last week, Amnesty International issued a statement demanding Pasnou's freedom.