- Ukraine: Instead of drug policy reform, Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers adopted a decree allowing for the legal circulation of a short list of cannabis-based medical substances. Patients’ groups filed a protest against such “reform”. Read more at TalkingDrugs (Rus).
- Estonia: read an overview of the national report on NPS use at TalkingDrugs (Rus). Other reports from EECA countries are available at EHRA website (Eng).
- The 4th episode of the documentary video series “Good people”, produced by DUNews studio, featuring an interview with Georgian activist Nino Darsavelidze, is available here (Rus).
- COVID-19 in Prisons: Moldova, Russia and Ukraine — a survey conducted by RUNPUD activists among people detained in prison and those awaiting trial. Read the full report here (Rus).
- Lithuania: The Lithuanian Seim is currently hearing a draft law on the decriminalisation of possession of small amounts of drugs for individual purposes. Local activists are calling for support, urging the Lithuanian MPs to adopt the law. Read in detail here (Eng).
- Russia: 100 million roubles are spent on drug law enforcement annually — read more on they persecution of people who use drugs by Erseniy Levinson, a Russian human rights defender at VTimes (Rus).
- The European Court of Human Rights came to a decision in the case of “Kuzmina and others VS Russia”, acknowledging the problematic application of control/test purchases of drugs by police officers. The ECHR requested an amendment to laws regarding operational and investigative police activities. Read more at BBC (Rus). The Court’s decision is available here (Eng).
- Check out the online edition of the Ukrainian newspaper on harm reduction “Motyliok (Butterfly)” here (Rus).
- Read about the creation of 4:20 aka Marijuana Day here (Rus).
- A new educational course for street lawyers working with vulnerable groups has been published by EHRA here (Eng). The course includes podcasts and a manual. Registration required.
Talking Drugs Updates from Eastern Europe and Central Asia [April 2021]
