A Moscow court on Monday ordered that U.S. citizen Joseph Tater be committed to a psychiatric hospital for compulsory treatment after he was accused of attacking a police officer last year.
The judge ruled Tater unfit to stand trial and approved a prosecution request for him to undergo compulsory medical treatment at a specialized inpatient psychiatric facility.
His lawyer told reporters that she plans to appeal the ruling, which was handed down at a closed-door hearing.
Tater, 46, was arrested in Moscow in August and charged with assaulting a police officer after allegedly harassing employees of the hotel where he was staying.
He had already been transferred from pre-trial detention to a psychiatric ward before Monday’s ruling.
At a court hearing in September, Tater said he wished to renounce his U.S. citizenship and demanded that embassy officials leave. He also claimed the CIA had targeted him for years, according to Russian media.
His lawyer told the judge that his client had traveled to Russia “to seek political asylum due to persecution by U.S. authorities.”
Russia has arrested several U.S. citizens in recent years on charges ranging from espionage and discrediting the Russian army to petty theft and domestic disputes.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
