“You walk in and see living skeletons”: Humiliation and abuse in Russian psychiatric care homes Residents of Moscow’s psychiatric care homes are subjected to severe neglect and abuse, including being tied up with leggings, leading to gangrene and amputation, with many cases going unreported due to lack of oversight and a culture of silence. Activists and former employees highlight systemic issues like understaffing, nepotism, and a lack of proper resources, comparing the facilities to “concentration camps” where residents are stripped of their rights and dignity. Despite rebranding efforts and some reforms, human rights advocates argue that the fundamental problems persist, demanding systemic change and public solidarity to break the cycle of abuse.

• A resident of the Obruchevsky social home in Moscow, Viktoriia Budkina, had her hands amputated due to gangrene after being tied too tightly with leggings by staff.
• Activists and former employees describe systemic issues in Moscow’s psychiatric care homes, including severe understaffing, abuse, neglect, and a lack of proper resources, likening the conditions to “concentration camps.”
• Past incidents at the Obruchevsky facility include residents being forced to vote in elections and a resident’s suicide attributed to negligence and access to drugs.
• The director of the Obruchevsky facility, Alexander Bondar, is criticized for alleged nepotism, financial mismanagement, and lacking qualifications, while also facing scrutiny for similar issues at a previous facility.
• Human rights advocates advocate for supported living arrangements over large institutional settings and criticize recent amendments that create barriers to discharging patients.
• Despite rebranding efforts, activists claim that conditions remain dire, with medical care being punitive and laws not effectively implemented in practice.
• The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the underfunding of civilian healthcare, negatively impacting the already precarious situation in these institutions.
• Activists are calling for greater transparency, urging staff, relatives, and the public to report violations and work towards systemic reform.