Tatsiana Vaitovich: I Feel Like Winner!

The Hrodna regional court has just closed the chapter in the story of the victim of punitive psychiatry from Navahradak.

Today it turned half a year sharp since the release of the paramedic-laboratory assistant at Navahradak hospital, doctor-valeologist Tatsiana Vaitovich from the mental hospital in Hrodna, where she had been forcibly taken by police. Within this period of time, she had to go through many hardships in the offices and instances, only to prove that the diagnosis that she had a psychiatric disease was illegal, Radio Racyja reports.

The lady believes that all this happened because she struggled against corruption and the officials’ lawlessness at power.

- What have you achieved in half a year with regard to the restoration of your good name and civil status?

- I succeed in showing and proving the illegality of the activity, or, rather to say, inaction of the judges of different levels, connected with the violation of the procedural rights – and I had 6 trials. Upon the results of the check held by the General Prosecutor’s Office, it was established that “Vaitovich was forcibly placed in the mental hospital.” Thus, all the officials who committed illegal actions must be punished. In the first place, this refers to Chief of Medicine of the Navahradak Central Hospital Aliaksandr Silich. He sexually harassed me, humiliated and insulted. He shouted things like “I will rot you in prison, the madhouse is your native home!” This was his revenge on me after I have made public his multi-million thefts.

- What can be stolen in a hospital?

- Starting from simple fuel ending with illegal paid medical services and paid ultra-sound examinations. He cheated people and put huge money in his pocket. This was confirmed by the State Control Committee, which was instructed to check the state of affairs by head of the Lukashenka Administration Natallia Kachanava, where I had to address as the last instance. They should have sent him to prison back then, but the local Investigatory Committee replaced the prison term with an administrative fine. As for me, they cynically noted that if Vaitovich watches her own and the others’ rights so eagerly than she probably needs to have her mental health checked.

And then the mafia-style conspiracy started, performed by head of the regional health care department Stryzhak, who chose to ignore the instructions of the then Minister of Health Care to employ me and to take under strict control the work of the Navahradak Central Hospital. Ending with current Chairman of the Navahradak district executive committee Markevich, who did not react to the illegal actions committed by his subordinates and the policemen. He chose to close his eyes on this…

- Do you feel like a winner now?

- Of course!

Human rights defender Katsiaryna Sadouskaya accompanied Tatsiana Vaitovich in her visits to the offices and courts, for half a year.

- I saw it myself that the “vertical” mini-states have been created at the local level, which, feeling impunity, commit absolute lawlessness. It’s unbelievably hard to uncover them, due to their conspiracy in silence. Let alone fair punishment. Nevertheless, we have the answer of the Prosecutor General’s Office on our hands, which says: “During consideration of your appeal it was established that there had been no sufficient grounds for subjecting you to forcible treatment. In connection with that, the Prosecutor of the Hrodna region has been instructed to conduct the corresponding check.” Speaking simpler, to start criminal cases against the persons responsible for organization of psychiatric repressions against Tatsiana Vaitovich by placing her to the Hrodna Mental Hospital on November 1, 2017.

Besides, I think all this became possible also because the mentioned Silich had stolen such millions he could buy everyone. This is a peculiar feature of our officials – everyone seem to be losing their minds because of money.

- Does such authority have a right to exist?

- At least, it has no perspectives, as the greedy officials will lead the country to a civil war, because the people cannot tolerate it all any longer. Which was shown by last year’s events with regard to “parasites”…

Coordinator of the human rights forum “Freedom to Political Prisoners!”, Co-Chairman of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Pavel Seviarynets commented upon the situation:

- In the situations related to punitive psychiatry, as a rule, it is a very rare occurrence when a person manages to at least defend themselves. More often, they come out of a mental hospital with a stigma for the entire life. Tatsiana was struggling for her dignity with the biblical strength and stubbornness. She is the only one who managed to defend herself from this infernal machine of the punitive psychiatry so quickly, and restore her good reputation! Thanks also to those who struggled for her, as this was a whole team of human rights defenders, civil activists and journalists, who voiced these facts.

This is the lesson every activist should learn – don’t be shy and never keep silence! Because, in the absolute majority of cases, the authorities are trying to get rid of the people exactly in this way…