TalkingDrugs Updates from Eastern Europe & Central Asia [April 2020]

What are the impacts of the pandemic on the Darknet?
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The Right to Health of People Who Use Drugs Must Be Prioritized in Global COVID-19 Response – statement of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is available here (Eng)
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Russian Andrey Rylkov Foundation accused of “Narco-Propaganda” Over COVID-19 Advocacy For People Who Use Drugs. Fund decided to close down its web-site about drug policy and human rights in Russia. Read the full statement at TalkingDrugs (Eng). Explore how the fund is working in self-isolation via its telegram-channel here (Rus).
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Belarus: Read the story of Natalya Holub, a participant of the substitution treatment program, who has been deprived of her parental rights over her 12-year old son. Read the interview with Natalya at EHRA web-site (Eng).
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39% of Ukrainians support medical cannabis legalization in Ukraine, according to recent national poll results. Read more at TalkingDrugs (Rus).
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"COVID-19. Chronicles of Harm Reduction” – DUNews Studio video series exploring the work of harm reduction services in EECA countries during the pandemic. Watch at DUNews youtube channel (Rus with Eng subs).
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EECA’s response to COVID-19: prison health in Kyrgyzstan. Read more at AFEW International (Eng).
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“The young and the rich are always eager to get cocaine”. FSB, FSKN and the Moscow drug circulation: a story published by Mediazona (Rus).
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UN stated coronavirus-induced shortage of drugs may lead to increase of their injecting use and lead to the rise of HIV, Hep C and overdose. Head more here (Rus).
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Darknet on Quarantine: the impact of COVID19 on illicit online drug markets in the US, Europe, Russia and Ukraine. A story by “the Bell” media outlet.
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Gender differences in effects of MDMA use, published by Russian telegram channel SciDrugs, is available here (Rus). Long-term effects of MDMA – follow the link (Rus).
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“Death is like a dream” – an article about lethal symptoms of opiates’ overdose, by PsychoDaily (Rus).