Shield Update 2/19/2025
We have added contact information for individuals. Concerned individuals can now write. Scroll down to read under ‘Call to Action’
Shield Alert 1/21/2025
Free Artem: Sixteen-Year Old War Refugee Living in Denmark Institutionalized and Forcibly Drugged!
On 1/20/2025, a U.S. federal holiday dedicated to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., MindFreedom International received a letter (see copy of letter below highlighted in red) from a Ukrainian mother, Lara Shavkan, asking other Shield members to help her protect her son, Artem Shavkan, from psychiatric abuse. Lara and Artem are Ukrainian refugees living in Denmark. The psychiatric abuse is taking place in Denmark, a nation that has ratified the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) which expressly prohibits any forced psychiatric intervention.
Artem Shavkan is an enrolled member of MindFreedom’s Shield program. Artem was violently taken from his mother and he is currently being incarcerated in a facility called “Poseidon.” While there, he is being deprived of opportunities to pursue his education and he is subjected to solitary confinement. According to his mother, Artem’s visits with his mother are limited to fifteen minutes per month and he is currently being subjected to a powerful neuroleptic drug called ‘Abilify’ (aripiprazole)
Lara’s son has what she calls ‘autistic traits.’ At this writing MFI does not know if her son has has been given an official diagnosis.
Lara activated Artem’s Shield and asks for help protecting her son from forced, psychiatric drugging.
You can hear an audio recording of Lara’s plea for help by clicking
Audio PlayerYou can also view a video recording of Lara HERE.
What appears below is an excerpt from letter written by Lara Shavkan to MindFreedom dated 1/20/25:
Dear representatives of Shield Alert of Mind Freedom International
I ask for assistance and help to save my child.
We are Ukrainian family, who escaped from the war in Ukraine to Denmark in March 2022.
My son Artem was violently taken away from home because of his autistic traits in March 2023.
He has been isolated without school, communication, internet and phone. He is physically punished by the staff of Bostedet Poseidon and punished with a hunger. As a result, he has strong convulsive ticks and stomach pain.
He can see his mother once a month for 15 minutes.
Poseidon for 8 times during 2 months pushed psychiatrists to prescribe the child antipsychotic medication. But psychiatrists refused, because the child doesn’t have relevant psychiatric illness.
Now he is sedated with Abilify so much, that he is in bed most of the time, but he is forbidden to tell his protest.
Authorities ignore his mother’s requirements. The child is 16 now, but he is not allowed to take part in a court as a party in his case, though he is normal intellectually and speaks English fluently.
In Ukraine before the war the child went to ordinary school, took part in international music competitions, had normal life and never took antipsychotic medicine.
Against of the background of poor health, poor nutrition and constant stress, 15 mg of Abilify kills the child.
I beg you to save my child.
Call to Action
Call or write to the headmaster of Fonden Bostedet Poseidon
Headmaster Morten Glerup Maagaard –
Tel: +45 44101300email: morten@bostedetposeidon.dk
Poseidon, address: Asylgade 12, stuen, 7700 Thisted, Denmark.
2. Psychiatry Department in Aalborg, chief physician Linda Hardisty Bramsen – email: psykiatri@rn.dk
3. Alles Hurup hospital, pediatrician Per Tonny Schou – email: praksis@rn.dk
3/11/2025 I received the following reply from Annette Poulsen regarding Artem Shavkan:
MSB-Fagligt-Sekretariat
4:40 AM (1 hour ago)
to me
Dear Philip A. Kumin
Thank you for your inquiry.
I am unable to comment on individual cases.
Kind regards
Anette Poulsen
Alderman for Social Affairs and Employment, Aarhus Municipality
Conversation opened. 1 read message.
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Artem Shavkan
Regarding: Artem Shavkan
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am a volunteer for MindFreedom International, an organization that fights for human rights of individuals undergoing psychiatric treatment. I’m writing to you concerning the plight of Artem Shavkan, a sixteen year old Ukrainian boy being held in the Poseidon Institution in Denmark. It is our understanding that Artem is being held in solitary confinement and is being chemically assaulted with the antipsychotic drug Abilify even though he has not received a psychiatric diagnosis. As if forced drugging and incarceration and isolation were not ‘punishment’ enough, Artem is being denied regular visits with his mother. I am wondering if this is how Denmark treats all children who are seeking refuge from war?
What is the purpose of depriving a child of his human rights? What is the purpose of subjecting a child with a powerful mind altering drug (Abilify) known to cause brain shrinkage? (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2767218)
Besides brain shrinkage antipsychotics cause weight gain often leading to Type 2 Diabetes, Tardive Dyskinesia, Akathisia (often overlooked), and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome that can lead to death. These are just a few of the severe side effects of Abilify, a drug that will alter the course of Artem’s life Most people who have experienced forced drugging with antipsychotics and who have also experienced rape say the forced drugging is far more intrusive and traumatizing than rape. As a sexual assault survivor there are things worse than rape and that is forced drugging. What gives anyone the right to rob someone of their agency and bodily autonomy?
Artem is not the only victim here. His mother is being held “captive” too. What purpose does it serve to separate a mother from her child especially when they are in foreign country because their country is being bombed? The relationship between a mother and her child is sacred. It’s the first bond a child has in life. What purpose does it serve the country of Denmark to break the sacred bonds between a mother and her child. It is no different than the family separation policies the USA instituted at our Southern Border in 2018. Like Artem those children and their families were escaping violence in their home country. Sadly those children and their parents are still impacted to this day and will be for life. Does Denmark want to do the same to Artem and his mother? https://sph.umich.edu/pursuit/2018posts/family-separation-US-border.html
While Artem is being incarcerated and drugged, what is happening with his education? Is he able to learn while under the influence of an unwanted powerful mind altering agent? Are you providing him with tutors? As you know, an education is paramount for a successful life. What is being done about Artem’s studies? How are you ensuring his future financial success when he is being deprived of his rightful education?
Artem has already experienced more tragedy and trauma than most people endure in a lifetime. I cannot believe that psychiatrists in Denmark are causing even more pain and suffering to Artem and his mother and family. Is the European Union aware you are incarcerating a child war refugee against his will? In case you need a reminder of the European Union views of forced treatment I have provided you a link https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/involuntary-placement-and-involuntary-treatment-of-persons-with-mental-health-problems_en.pdf
I am writing to you today to beg you to please respect the human rights of Atrem and his mother by returning this child to his mother. Allow them to heal from the ravages of war together. I beg you to please not deprive Artem of his God given potential and set him free.
Sincerely,
Andrea Barnes
mindfreedom international denmark ukranian war
Artem Shavkan
Inbox
Philip Kumin
11:11 PM (5 minutes ago)
to morton, psykiatri
1010 St. Paul Street
Apartment 5R
Baltimore, MD 21202
U.S.A.
(443) 850-6706
p253kumin@gmail.com
Dear Sir or Madam:
I’m writing to you concerning the plight of Artem Shavkan, a sixteen
year old Ukrainian boy being held in the Poseidon Institution in
Denmark. We are being told that Artem is being kept in solitary
confinement where he is forced to take a powerful antipsychotic, in
spite of the fact that he has no psychiatric diagnosis. He’s not
allowed to visit with his mother for more than 15 minutes each month.
Why is Artem being kept locked up in solitary confinement where he is
forced to take medication? Is he considered to be dangerous to
others? Why isn’t he allowed to see his mother for more than 15
minutes?
For the love of God, and for the love of a child who has already seen
too much tragedy in his life, please compassionately reconsider your
treatments of him. Thank you so much.
Philip A. Kumin
Philip,
Thank you for sending this!
Sarah
These are emails of people, who I ask you to write, please:
1. Fonden Bostedet Poseidon, headmaster Morten Glerup Maagaard – email: morten@bostedetposeidon.dk
2. Psychiatry Department in Aalborg, chief physician Linda Hardisty Bramsen – email: psykiatri@rn.dk
3. Alles Hurup hospital, pediatrician Per Tonny Schou – email: praksis@rn.dk
4. Department of Social Affairs, director Erik Kaastrup Hansen – email: erka@aarhus.dk
and leader Anette Poulsen – email: anette.byr@aarhus.dk
Sincerelly,
Lara, Artem mother.