By Country / Russia
Activists Oppose Russian Call For Mandatory Drug Treatment
December 19, 2006
Vikotr Cherkesov (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)
December 19, 2006 -- Rights groups have criticized a proposal by the head of Russia's Federal Antinarcotics Service to bring back Soviet-era policies mandating medical treatment for drug addicts.
General Viktor Cherkesov suggested last month such a move would save the addicts' lives and prevent them from committing violence. But Russia's group Memorial said on December 18 that mandatory treatment would lead to rights violations, while the New York-based Human Rights Watch said there was already a shortage of hospital beds to treat addicts who want to be helped.
(AP)