Alexander Gabyshev

[1] After being arrested and sentenced to involuntary confinement in a psychiatric hospital multiple times, his case has sparked condemnation of the political abuse of psychiatry in Russia.

Although locals claim no political goals at this time, Gabyshev later said that his purpose was to protest against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

[6] In July 2019, he held a rally calling for Putin to "Return the Town and Country to the People" in Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai, which attracted between 700 and 1000 supporters and was organised by the local Communist Party.

Russian media reported that he would be deported back to Yakutsk and was potentially facing charges of forming an extremist organisation.

[14] In July 2021, the Yakutsk City Court announced a ruling that Gabyshev should be confined indefinitely to a psychiatric hospital for intensive treatment.

Amnesty International condemned the ruling, stating that he was "sentenced to indefinite compulsory psychiatric treatment solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression" and calling for an end to "punitive psychiatry as a method to silence dissent.