Aleksandr Gabyshev

Extra Bio Info:

Aleksandr Gabyshev is detained for his religious expression, belief, and activity. 

On January 27, 2021, authorities arrested Gabyshev and sent him to a psychiatric hospital after Gabyshev renewed his calls to “exorcise” President Vladimir Putin from power. Gabyshev was charged with “public calls for extremist activity” (Art. 280-1 RCC) and “using violence dangerous to the life or health of a representative of authority” (Art. 318-2 RCC). Gabyshev allegedly injured a police officer during his arrest.

On July 26, 2021, the Yakutsk City Court ruled Gabyshev be confined to a psychiatric hospital indefinitely.

In September 2021, an appeals court reportedly upheld Gabyshev’s indefinite psychiatric confinement, declaring him “insane.”

In October 2022, the Ussuriisk District Court extended Gabyshev’s psychiatric confinement after the Primorye Regional Court the month before ruled in favor of Gabyshev’s appeal and ordered a new hearing with the Ussuriisk District Court.

On November 30, 2022, the Primorye Regional Court rejected Gabyshev’s appeal against the extension of his forced hospitalization.

In February 2023, a court extended Gabyshev’s psychiatric confinement to June 2023.

In June 2023, a court ordered the transfer of Gabyshev to a general psychiatric hospital with lighter detention conditions in Yakutsk.

In July 2023, the Primorsky Regional Court overturned Gabyshev's court-ordered transfer to a general psychiatric hospital with lighter detention conditions.

Gabyshev has previously been subjected to forced psychiatric hospitalization for his religious expression. In 2019, Gabyshev began a cross country trek from Yakutsk to Moscow with the goal of using his shaman powers to cast out President Putin’s "demons." In September 2019, police abducted him and placed him in a psychiatric hospital for “public calls for extremist activity” (Art. 280-1 RCC).