Russian Opposition Activist Released From Psychiatric Clinic

A Russian opposition activist, who was forcibly admitted to a psychiatric clinic in the southwestern city of Voronezh, has been freed.

Lawyer Sergei Loktev told RFE/RL on May 12 that Dmitry Vorobyevsky was released from the clinic after a local court rejected a request by doctors to keep the activist in the psychiatric clinic.

Police and medical personnel forcibly moved Vorobyevsky to the psychiatric clinic from his home on May 6. 

Police said that Loktev was forced to the clinic after unnamed neighbors complained about his behavior.

However, Loktev says his client does not look like a person who may hurt other people or himself.

Vorobyevsky is well-known for taking part in anti-Kremlin protests.

In the Soviet era, authorities forcibly placed individuals to psychiatric clinics to crackdown on dissent.