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MOSCOW (AP) — A U.S. national currently facing legal proceedings in Moscow has reportedly been admitted against his will to a psychiatric facility, according to Russian state media reports from Sunday.
Joseph Tater, aged 46, was taken into custody in August 2024, after allegedly assaulting a police officer during an altercation with hotel personnel at a luxury accommodation in the city.
Following a medical assessment conducted on March 15, a Moscow court ruled that Tater should be involuntarily committed to a psychiatric institution, as reported by the Russian news agency Tass.
Medical professionals described Tater’s condition as characterized by “tension, impulsivity, persecutory delusions, and a lack of awareness about his mental state,” according to the same report.
He was slated to face trial on April 14 for the assault charges, which could result in a sentence of up to five years in prison. The timing of the court’s decision regarding his hospitalization is unclear, however, reports indicate he had been released from pre-trial detention at the end of March.
During a court session held in September, Tater expressed that his journey to Russia was motivated by a desire to seek political asylum, claiming persecution orchestrated by the CIA.
His attorney has filed an appeal challenging the decision for forced hospitalization, asserting that authorities are aiming to “separate the defendant from society,” as reported by Tass.
Human rights organizations have accused the Russian government of employing similar tactics, including forced psychiatric commitments based on dissenting political views — a method reminiscent of practices used during the Soviet era which critics argue has intensified under President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Tater has previously served 15 days in jail related to the same incident after being found guilty of minor charges for “petty hooliganism.”
According to Russian state news agencies, Tater was apprehended in August 2024 when he reportedly became combative with hotel staff who requested verification of his identification. His behavior escalated when the hotel refused to provide him accommodation, leading to an aggressive confrontation with responding police officers.
Tater is among numerous Americans currently detained in Russia on various charges, including drug-related offenses and assaults, many facing lengthy sentences. Notably, Robert Gilman, age 72, was recently sentenced to three and a half years for assaulting a police officer after a drunken incident on a train, while musician Travis Leake received a 13-year prison sentence following a drug conviction in July 2024.
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