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Russia to use European experience in bill on criminal responsibility for drug use

The main message of the bill is not in punishment of drug addicts, but in stimulating them – threatening with a treatment course

MOSCOW, March 26 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s drug control service /FSKN/ uses experience of European countries in drafting a bill on criminal responsibility for systematic use of drugs, the FSKN’s press service said on Monday.

“Now, the document is being approved in compliance with the orders of Russia’s president,” the source said adding that the legislative amendments mind “experience of several countries, including France and Sweden.”

The main message of the bill is not in punishment of drug addicts, but in stimulating them – threatening with a treatment course.

“Such measures are necessary under the current criminal situation with illegal turnover of drug and psychotropic substances, with evident expanding of the drug related criminal activities, with the growing number of drug addicts, with repeated crimes which drug addicts commit,” the source said.

If the amendments are approved, Russian courts will have a right to stop criminal cases of drug addicts if they agree to take treatment.

The press service explained that the authority had been working on the amendments together with the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development, with Prosecutor General’s Office and with Russia’s Supreme Court, “as well as with the civil society.”

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