Summary
A Moscow court has forcibly committed U.S. citizen Joseph Tater, 46, to a psychiatric hospital ahead of his April 14 trial for allegedly assaulting a police officer at a hotel in August 2024.
Doctors cited symptoms including persecutory delusions and lack of self-awareness. Tater, who earlier served 15 days for petty hooliganism, claimed he sought asylum in Russia due to CIA persecution.
His lawyer is appealing the hospitalization, calling it politically motivated.
Rights groups warn Russia is reviving Soviet-era tactics of psychiatric detention to suppress dissent.
Speaking of lack of self-awareness, it would be swell if totalitarian governments would just TRY not to make the projection so painfully obvious once in a while 🤦😮💨