Putin allowed the courts to send the defendants to a mental hospital for six months and extend this period

Putin signed a law that allows the court to send defendants to a psychiatric hospital for up to six months.

Changes have been made to the procedure for placing suspects and accused in custody in a psychiatric hospital. Now the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) of the Russian Federation stipulates that the court, on its own initiative, can send prisoners to specialized medical institutions for treatment for six months and then repeatedly extend this period. Previously, those in custody could be sent to a psychiatric hospital only for a forensic medical or forensic psychiatric examination. Doctors can suggest investigators change the measure of restraint.

The State Duma also adopted amendments according to which special restrictive measures will be applied to suspects in a medical facility. By a court decision, those on treatment may be banned from communicating with certain people, sending and receiving postal and telegraphic items, and using communications and the Internet. The administration of the psychiatric hospital will monitor compliance with the prohibitions.