Neurologist Viškers Charged with Sexual Assault Against Nine Female Patients in Riga
Police have initiated criminal prosecution against neurologist Viškers for sexual conduct against nine women, using hypnosis. The criminal law provides for up to ten years' imprisonment.
Neurologist Viškers Charged with Sexual Assault Against Nine Female Patients
Google News LV — Crime (lv) reports that police have initiated criminal prosecution against neurologist Viškers, who is charged with sexual conduct against nine female patients between 2020 and 2024.
The affected women had sought consultations with the doctor, but he, using hypnosis methods in his practice, allegedly carried out sexual conduct against the patients against their will in order to satisfy his sexual desires. The conduct involved physical contact, exploiting the patients' trust and vulnerable state.
The criminal proceeding in Riga's Eastern District was opened on 22 January 2025 after several women came to police with similar accounts of their experiences. All submissions about the conduct of this particular doctor have been combined into one investigation.
Thorough investigation in close cooperation with the prosecution, including the assignment of expert examinations, enabled the gathering of sufficient evidence — despite the fact that several years have passed since the first episodes of the offences, police informed. In September 2025, Viškers was recognised as a suspect, and security measures were imposed on him: a ban on approaching certain individuals and taking a specific position.
On 25 August, police transferred the criminal proceeding to Riga's Eastern District Prosecutor's Office, requesting that criminal prosecution be initiated. Law enforcement expressed thanks to the Health Inspectorate, as well as journalists from the Baltic investigative journalism centre "Re:Baltica" and Latvia's Television for sharing essential information.
The Latvian Medical Association's Certification Board suspended Viškers' certification in the neurology specialty in October 2025.
It should be noted that initially police had decided not to open a criminal proceeding — one of the patients appealed this decision to the prosecutor, who overturned the police decision.
"Re:Baltica" had previously compiled testimony from several unrelated women about their visits to Viškers. The women alleged that the doctor touched them without permission, made sexually explicit comments and attempted to hypnotise them — cracking their backs, sometimes touching their breasts and abdomen, talking about relaxation techniques and invoking orgasm. Viškers denied the allegations, calling his actions meditation rather than hypnosis.
"Re:Baltica" emphasised that this case has parallels with the case of immunologist Evgueny Nikiforenko — he is charged with sexual assault against patients, and in June of this year the first-instance court sentenced him to 13 years' imprisonment and barred him from working as a doctor for seven years.
The Criminal Law for the offences attributed to Viškers provides for deprivation of liberty of up to ten years.
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)