Viktor Fainberg | |
|---|---|
Виктор Файнберг | |
 Fainberg in 2014 | |
| Born | (1931-11-26)26 November 1931[1] |
| Died | 2 January 2023(2023-01-02) (aged 91) |
| Citizenship | Russian, French |
| Education | Philology of the English language and literature |
| Alma mater | Leningrad University |
| Occupation(s) | Philology,politics |
| Known for | Participation in thedissident movement in the Soviet Union, the1968 Red Square demonstration and theCampaign Against Psychiatric Abuse which led thestruggle against political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union |
| Movement | Dissident movement in the Soviet Union |
| Partner | Marina Voikhanskaya |
| Children | Yuri |
| Parent(s) | Isaac Fainberg and Sarah Dashevskaya |
| Awards | Medal of the President of the Slovak republic |
Viktor Isaakovich Fainberg (Russian:Виктор Исаакович Файнберг; 26 November 1931 – 2 January 2023) was a Russianphilologist, prominent figure of thedissident movement in the Soviet Union, participant of the1968 Red Square demonstration,[2]: 195 and the director of theCampaign Against Psychiatric Abuse.[3][4][5][6]
Viktor Fainberg was born to the married couple of Isaac Fainberg and Sarah Dashevskaya. While attending school during anantisemitic campaign of 1948-1952, he was subjected to harassment that, in his own words, he did not reconcile himself to, but entered the fray with an abuser. As the result of these frays, he got a referral to a psychiatrist.
In 1957, in connection with antisemitic insult, he had a fight with a policeman and for this reason was sentenced to 1 year of corrective labor.[7]
In 1968, he graduated from the English unit of the philological department ofLeningrad University where he defended his diploma thesis about writerSalinger with distinction. In the summer of 1968, Fainberg worked as a guide atPavlovsk Palace.[2]: 195
Fainberg was one of the seven persons who participated in the1968 Red Square demonstration against the Soviet-led military invasion ofCzechoslovakia.[8]: 77 During the demonstration and his arrest, he lost many teeth and in this unpresentable state was never presented for trial; instead, he was placed to a psychiatric hospital.[9]: 147
Fainberg was examined by theSerbsky Institute commission composed of G.V. Morozov,D.R. Lunts and Y.L. Lindau. In their act No 35 / s dated 10 October 1968, they did not mention the invasion of Czechoslovakia, which gave rise to this demonstration, the action was merely described as 'disorderly conduct at Red Square,' and Fainberg's mental condition was described as follows:[10]
With enthusiasm and strong obsession he expresses ideas of reformism as toMarxism classics' teaching, while revealing clearly his increased self-esteem and firm belief in his rightness. At the same time, his remarks about his family, parents, and son reveal his emotional flatness... In the Institute department, one can note his unconcern, indifference to himself and others in his outwardly orderly behavior. He is occupied with gymnastics, rubdown, reading books, and studying literature in English. His insight into his condition and the emerged situation is clearly insufficient.[2]: 201, 202 [10]
As a result, he was committed for compulsory treatment to the Special Psychiatric Hospital inLeningrad where he was confined from January 1969 to February 1973.[8]: 77 [10]
At the hospital, Fainberg went on hunger strike in protest, was subjected to forced feeding and was treated withchlorpromazine despite hishyperthyroidism that was somatic contraindication to chlorpromazine therapy.[10]: 122
Marina Voikhanskaya, a psychiatrist at the hospital, assisted Fainberg by passing information about him to dissidents outside. She was demoted for this activity which helped Fainberg be released. In 1974, Fainberg emigrated from theSoviet Union to Israel, and Marina Voikhanskaya emigrated to the UK in 1975.[11][12]
In emigration, Fainberg initiated the formation of "Campaign Against Psychiatric Abuses" (CAPA) to fight punitive psychiatry in the USSR.[4] In 1983, the Soviet Union was expelled from theWorld Psychiatric Association (WPA).[11]
Fainberg died on 2 January 2023, at the age of 91.[13][14]
On 27 October 2014, along with other three dissenters from summer of 1968, Fainberg was decorated bySlovak PresidentAndrej Kiska for his show of solidarity to Czechoslovakia. He received theMedal of the President of the Slovak republic along with Vladimir Dremlyuga andPavel Litvinov.Natalya Gorbanevskaya received the highest Slovak award,Order of the White Double Cross, in memoriam.[15]
British playwrightTom Stoppard wrote the playEvery Good Boy Deserves Favour dedicated toVladimir Bukovsky and Viktor Fainberg.[4][16]: 359
Fainberg has a daughter, Sarah, who is a research fellow at theInstitute for National Security Studies inTel Aviv.[17]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) (The Russian text of the book in full is available online on the website of the organization "Help for Psychiatric Survivors"){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link).TheInstitute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes videotaped Fainberg's spoken autobiography in Russian:
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