Russian web activist committed to clinic: opposition



SAINT PETERSBURG, March 15, 2009 (AFP) - An Internet activist behind several anti-Kremlin social network groups has been committed to a psychiatric hospital against his will, a Russian opposition movement said on Sunday.
Vadim Charushev, who created several anti-Kremlin groups on one of Russia's most popular social networking websites, V Kontakte (In Contact), was involuntarily committed to one of Saint Petersburg's psychiatric hospital late last week, said a spokeswoman for the opposition movement United Civil Front.



"It is the first time this measure has been applied to an Internet activist," the spokeswoman, Olga Kurnosova, told AFP.
Kurnosova said it was not entirely clear how Charushev came to be committed to the unity but added: "A healthy person would not go to a psychiatric clinic voluntarily."
United Civil Front is an opposition movement founded by chess champion turned fierce Kremlin critic Garry Kasparov.
The hospital staff, when reached by phone by AFP, declined to comment.
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Image from GeoPolitika.

Sunday, March 15th 2009
AFP
           


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