Subjects:

Other Jurisdictions , Criminal Law, Medical Law, Russian Federation, International Criminal Law, Wildy, Simmonds and Hill

Russia confronts a dual public health threat and law enforcement concern: rising rates of drug addiction and an HIV/AIDS epidemic for which injecting drug users are principally responsible. This book examines the legal risks associated with introducing harm reduction programmes under foreign assistance schemes to combat HIV in Russia

The first study in any language to analyse the interface between a major “best international practice” public health initiative and a zero-tolerance regime for regulating narcotics, it contains a history of Russian narcotics and HIV legislation, detailed commentary on relevant Russian codes, judicial practice, and treaties, accompanied by translations of the principal narcotics and HIV legislation, the UN narcotics conventions, and consideration of European human rights standards

The lessons of Russian experience are relevant worldwide and the success or failure of Russia in coping with legal risks arising from both threats has immediate implications for Europe as a whole.