Georgien. Georgia’s Drug Treatment Ban Is a Page from Russia’s Playbook
Georgien. Georgia’s Drug Treatment Ban Is a Page from Russia’s Playbook
On 25 June, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the Georgian Dream party announced the closure of all private facilities offering Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT, also known as OST), claiming that only the state should be responsible for people’s drug treatment. Kobakhidze added that private drug treatment clinics are purposefully distributing drugs to keep patients addicted and financially dependent on them. This move was followed by Kobakhidze’s request for the Ministry of Health to remove publicly run OAT treatment centres from “densely populated spaces in the shortest possible time” as their presence allegedly causes “thorough dissatisfaction” among locals.
The shift will potentially impact thousands of people’s access to stable medical treatment. Disguised as a public health move, this decision is in fact a dangerous ideological shift, one that increasing aligns Georgia with Russia’s punitive approach towards drugs. (Talking Drugs, UK, 22.07.2025)
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/georgias-drug-treatment-ban-is-a-page-from-russias-playbook