ARAP RELEASED FROM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 004091 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV RS SUBJECT: ARAP RELEASED FROM PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL REF: MOSCOW 3953 Classified By: Political Counselor Alice G. Wells for reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: United Civic Front activist Larissa Arap was released from the Apetity psychiatric hospital on August 20, after being hospitalized against her will for more than six weeks. The hospital required her to agree to follow outpatient therapy before they would allow her to leave. United Civic Front spokeswoman Marina Litvinovich credited Human Rights Ombudsman Lukin's interest and intervention in the case in getting Arap released early. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On August 20, The Apetity psychiatric hospital released United Civic Front (UCF) activist Larissa Arap to her family. The hospital, which has not publicly commented on the case, required Arap to agree in writing to follow an outpatient course of treatment, according to press reports. Only six days earlier, the head of the Apetity hospital, Evgeney Zinin, said that Arap would hospitalized for at least two weeks until her condition had improved to the point where "she is no longer a danger to others." ¶3. (C) UCF spokesman Marina Litvinovich told us that Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin's activism was responsible for securing Arap's early release. (On August 15, Lukin told us that while he was disappointed in the court's August 10 decision to continue Arap's hospitalization, he would continue his interest in the case.) UCF Murmansk Chairwoman Yelena Vasilevna told our consulate in St. Petersburg that UCF leader Garry Kasparov has offered his support for Arap's medication and outpatient treatment. ¶4. (SBU) In a press interview, Arap claimed that she signed the agreement in order to be released, but vowed to continue her fight against the hospital authorities in court in order to clear her name and to remove any leverage that the Murmansk hospital officials might have to attempt to re-commit her. On August 22, the Murmansk court will review the original July 18 decision to commit her. ¶5. (C) Comment: Previously, Lukin has played a forceful behind-the-scenes role in combating the abuse of psychiatric hospitalizations. His public success in helping to secure Arap's early release brings credit to the Ombudsman's office, while airing an issue that requires remedial attention. Melville