'No Grounds' For Keeping Activist In Russian Psychiatric Clinic

MURMANSK, Russia; August 10, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The head of the Murmansk branch of the United Civic Front opposition movement, Elena Vasilieva, has told RFE/RL's Russian Service that independent experts from Moscow did not find grounds for confining their activist, Larisa Arap, to a psychiatric clinic.

Vasilieva said that official results of the examination will become known after today's court hearings are completed in Murmansk.

Arap claims authorities placed her in the hospital in reprisal for a statement she gave to a newspaper, alleging that patients at another local psychiatric clinic were beaten and sexually abused.