Serbsky Institute dismisses charges. Next hearing, 14 March

Russia’s Serbsky Institute has rejected any grounds for the charges against YURY DMITRIEV, renowned historian and Head of the Karelia branch of the Memorial Society.

Even an institute notorious for its use of punitive psychiatry in Soviet times was not willing to take part in the politically motivated attempt to imprison Dmitriev for up to 15 years and stated clearly that the historian “is not a paedophile”.  The result comes after Dmitriev spent 13 months in detention on charges that aroused concern far beyond his native Karelia.

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Serbsky verdict: Dmitriev sane, photos not pornographic

At today’s long-awaited court hearing, the first since YURY DMITRIEV returned from Moscow and was released from custody, the findings of the Serbsky Institute were made public: the court had required the institute to assess Dmitriev’s mental state and the status of the photographs he took of his foster daughter Natasha.

Dmitriev arrives for Feb 2018 hearing

Dmitriev arrives for court hearing

The specialists at the Serbsky Institute in Moscow found that Dmitriev is in his right mind and does not require in-patient treatment at any psychiatric institution. They also concurred with the experts who reported to the Petrozavodsk City Court on 27 December 2017 that there was no element of pornography in the nine photos cited by the prosecution as evidence of abuse.

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Psychiatric examination completed, results not known

The Serbsky Institute in Moscow has completed its assessment of Yury Dmitriev and on 19 January 2018 he was transferred to the city’s Butyrka Prison, says his defence attorney Victor Anufriev.

The official results of the investigation of Dmitriev’s psychological, sexual and psychiatric condition are not known. His attorney says that the assessment has not yet been signed and it would be improper to draw any conclusions.  Continue reading

Letters and Parcels

YURY DMITRIEV is already at the Serbsky Centre in Moscow. Several people, including his son, have been quick to take him a food parcel there — good for him and his morale, and helpful in making friends inside.

food parcel for Dmitriev (Serbsky Institute)

What Victoria Ivleva took Dmitriev

Photojournalist Victoria Ivleva took a lemon, mandarins, butter, toilet paper, cigarettes, cheese, sugar, speck (fatback), biscuits, salami and sweets.

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Prosecutor wants Dmitriev locked up in a madhouse

After the court-appointed assessment did not find child pornography in any of the photographs in the Dmitriev case, the prosecution, represented by YELENA ASKEROVA, Petrozavodsk city prosecutor, petitioned for a new assessment to be made of the photos of YURY DMITRIEV’s foster daughter.

Furthermore, Ms Askerova once again recommended that the court approach a private firm, not a State expert organisation.

She did not stop there, however. 

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