Uzbekistan: Psychiatric Drugs Used to Punish Activist

(Tashkent, October 21, 2005)—The Uzbek authorities today subjected one of the country’s prominent human rights defenders to forcible psychiatric treatment even though Uzbek law prohibits compulsory treatment until the appeals process has expired, Human Rights Watch said today.

Using psychiatric treatment to silence Elena Urlaeva is a gross violation of medical ethics and international standards. Holly Cartner   Executive Director   Europe and Central Asia division

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"Using psychiatric treatment to silence Elena Urlaeva is a gross violation of medical ethics and international standards," said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “It’s shocking that the hospital began the treatment without even waiting for the courts to consider her appeal.”  
 
Urlaeva told a representative of Human Rights Watch that this morning she was given a dose of Rispolept (also known as Risperidone) by doctors at the Tashkent City Psychiatric Hospital. Rispolept is used to treat schizophrenia. Common side effects include nausea, anxiety, dizziness, insomnia and blurred vision. The medication can have several serious side effects which may be permanent, including tardive dyskinesia, an involuntary and often continuous movement of the tongue and lips, accompanied by grimacing.  
 
Urlaeva reported that she experienced dizziness and shaking after taking the medication, symptoms that are consistent with the drug.  
 
In a visit today with a Western diplomat, Urlaeva was light headed, experienced shaking, and blacked out for several minutes. She was having difficulty with her memory. "I need to hurry to write my legal appeal while I am still functioning," Urlaeva told the diplomat.  
 
Yesterday, the head doctor at the hospital assured a Human Rights Watch representative that Urlaeva would only receive treatment after a period of observation and as her behavior warranted. When Urlaeva asked this morning why she was being medicated, the doctor told her that the clinic has the right to treat her 48 hours after her committal. However, according to Uzbek law, the court's decision ordering committal and compulsory treatment cannot take effect until the appeal period expires on October 28.  
 
Powerful antipsychotic drugs were previously forcibly administered to Urlaeva in 2001 and 2002.  
 
“Elena Urlaeva is being exposed to drugs that have a potential for serious and permanent side effects,” said Cartner. “The only reason for this treatment is to punish her and silence her for her human rights work.”  
 
The Uzbek authorities detained Urlaeva on 27 August and have kept her in forced psychiatric detention since then.