Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Nigmatullin takes part in a meeting of State Antidrug Committee

On March 26, Tatarstan Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Nigmatullin took part in a videoconference of State Antidrug Committee chaired by Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev.

Opening the meeting, Kolokoltsev said that the rapid development of software and hardware devices expands the distribution of a wide variety of information, including in the area of illicit drug trafficking.

The minister expressed the need to ensure additional measures aimed at further improving legal environment in this area. Thus, Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has prepared a draft law, which is currently undergoing interdepartmental coordination. The document envisages increased penalties for advertising drugs on the Internet or in mass media and also strengthens responsibility of telecom operators for late restriction of access to illegal content.

The Minister emphasized that combating the drug threat is impossible only by prohibitions or restrictions: “We need to intensify efforts in anti-drug campaign and create positive substitute content in modern and interesting formats for teenagers. Only coordinated work of all relevant ministries and departments will help to develop a stable immunity to the use of drugs in society”.

During the meeting, the participants discussed proposals on the organization of preventive actions.