Well-known Viciebsk critical care physician Uladzimir Martaŭ detained

February 23, BPN. The well-known Viciebsk critical care physician Uladzimir Martaŭ was detained on February 22 at his summer house near Lepel (Viciebsk region).

According to his wife, Martaŭ is held in the Lepel temporary detention center. A protocol was drawn up against him under Article 24.23 of the Administrative Code (violation of the order of organizing or holding mass events). The trial is scheduled for February 23.

Uladzimir Martaŭ is a physician with 30 years of experience. Since 2003, he had worked in the Viciebsk Emergency Hospital. For the last five years, he was the head of the Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department.

The doctor shared with the media information about problems in medical care for Covid-19 patients, in particular, about disruptions in the supply of oxygen to the hospital intensive care unit. Martaŭ claimed that this caused several people to die on ventilators at the end of 2020.

During his visit to the hospital in Maladzečna (Minsk region) on March 12, 2021, Aliaksandr Lukašenka said that Martaŭ “should be put in his place.” On April 3, 2021 the doctor was fired and his contract was not extended.

Since then, Martaŭ has not worked in healthcare. He adopted an active civic stance on social networks, declaring his rejection of violence and authoritarian government. Martaŭ expressed solidarity with political prisoners, speaking out about the hunger strike of political prisoner and philosopher Uladzimir Mackievič. Martaŭ also hosted At War with COVID-19 podcast on YouTube.