Abuse at a Moscow-area rehab center for children with addictions: beatings, tying up, starvation. The organizer is wanted.
Investigation at a rehabilitation center located in Dedovsk, started After a 16-year-old patient at a rehabilitation center was admitted to the intensive care unit unconscious on November 23, doctors discovered multiple injuries to his body, limbs, and head, as well as evidence of binding on his wrists and feet. The teenager suffered kidney failure, developed sepsis, and was placed in a medically induced coma.
Criminal cases have been opened for intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm, torture, unlawful imprisonment, and provision of services that do not meet safety requirements. According to law enforcement, instead of providing care, rehab staff systematically beat, starved, and abused patients. They were not allowed outside and were punished for violating the rules of conduct. Specifically, those who violated the rules were denied access to the restroom, tied to a bed, or taken to a "torture room" that security forces found in the building.
The administrator of Dedovsky rehab has been arrested. Vitaly Balabrikov, as well as an 18-year-old resident who allegedly took part in the abuse.
The organizer and owner of the rehab network, which includes the Dedovsky center, is a Rostov psychologist-therapist, lawyer, and activist. Anna KhobotovaAccording to the SHOT Telegram channel, she went into hiding after learning of Balabrikov's arrest.
Khobotova has been involved in community work in the rehabilitation of disadvantaged children for many years. In 2013, she served as the director of the Rostov Regional Public Charitable Organization for Social and Legal Assistance to Children, "Flowers of Life." presented the All-Russian Social House project, aimed at working with disadvantaged families (both projects did not leave any noticeable mark on the life of the Rostov region). Then was the chairperson Public Council of the regional party project "United Russia" "Difficult teenagers". Also worked hard an employee of the Prison Ministry Department of the Rostov-on-Don Diocese. Now Khobotova which usually takes the position of executive secretary of the Rostov region in the National Parents' Association of Russia.
