Youth activist examined in mental hospital for two weeks

Artsyom Zabaryn, activist of the youth organisation “Civil Forum”, has been in the Minsk city mental hospital for two weeks. He was sent there from a military enlistment office, where he passed medical examination.

During this time he had encephalogram and two blood tests. Doctors were more interested in public activity of the patient more than in his health. Chief doctor of the hospital Natallya Otchyk tried to find out member of what organisations Artsyom was, if he was going to take part in the elections, asked him about ties in policy, the website www.ucpb.org informs.

As it was reported before, Artsyom was called to a military enlistment office after his trip to Georgia, where he had observed the elections. KGB officer Leanid Zhydlouski waited for him in the military office. He offered Artsyom Zabaryn to tell about his and his friends’ activity. Besides “Civil Forum” organisation, Artsyom is also a member of the organising committee of the Party of Freedom and Progress. Leanid Zhydlouski asked about Kastus Kalinouski programme for education in Poland, Artsyom was going to join.

“A KGB officer said there is no information in the military enlistment office on my expelling from university,” Artsyom noted. “He offered me to tell everything. He promised I would have no problems in this case: he wouldn’t say the military office I had been expelled, and I would be able to join the Kalinouski programme. I didn’t answer any questions.”

Leanid Zhydlouski guarded the young activist to a military commissar. He was given a call for a medical examination on 13 June. According to Artsyom, he has problems with heart. However, a doctor in the military office said the young man was healthy. He was sent from the military enlistment office to the mental hospital for examination.

Artsyom Zabaryn underwent echocardiography in the cardiological center on Kuntsaushchyna Street, which confirmed he has heath problems.

As the youth activist said to the website ucpb.org, he has been feeling pressure upon him since the presidential elections of 2006. “A militiamen and subdean searched me in university,” Artsyom told. “The subdean calls me, asked about my participation in rallies and “unregistered organisations”. I was expelled from the faculty of Mechanics and Technology of Belarusian National Technical University for “academic failure”. Later I had to leave my job.”

The youth activist was promised he would be discharged on 26 June. He hasn’t been told the results of his examination in the mental hospital.