Concerns over health of Kazakh lawyer in psychiatric clinic

Publisher	Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date	25 July 2014
Cite as	Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Concerns over health of Kazakh lawyer in psychiatric clinic, 25 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54003e387.html [accessed 19 May 2023]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

July 25, 2014

By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

The health of Kazakh lawyer Zinaida Mukhortova, who was forcibly put into a psychiatric clinic, is reportedly deteriorating.

Mukhortova's sister, Natalya Abent, told RFE/RL on July 25 that the lawyer has red eyes and is not able to properly move because her body is swollen.

Abent said her sister's health problems were caused by medication administered to her in the clinic.

Mukhortova was detained and placed in the clinic on July 2 after she had returned to Balkash from self-imposed exile in Russia.

Mukhortova, 56, fled Kazakhstan in December after a Qaraghandy regional court rejected her appeal to cancel her forced psychiatric treatment.

Mukhortova was forced to undergo psychiatric treatment twice in 2012 and 2013.

She insisted the legal actions against her were politically motivated.

Mukhortova said authorities investigated her mental competence only after she filed complaints against a high-ranking local official.