Rehab center abuse claims: Founder questions credibility

For the second day, Russia has been discussing the emergency at the network of rehabilitation centers run by Anna Khobotova. In the Moscow region, a teenager who lived in the rehab fell into a coma. After that, law enforcement raided the centers, and Anna Khobotova herself is not in contact and is being sought.

We asked Yevgeny Roizman*, one of the founders of the «City Without Drugs» foundation and former mayor of Yekaterinburg, to comment on the situation. During its operation, the foundation was repeatedly accused of using violence against patients and criticized for its harsh methods. He noted that now almost all such centers are non-governmental, and their organizers risk facing criminal charges at any moment. The relatively high fee for patient care can be explained by the high risks.

“It«s very difficult to work, but in the Foundation we took children for free. For a drug addict, the most terrible torture, the most terrible insult is being deprived of the opportunity to use drugs; to get back to their previous life, they will file a complaint against anything and anyone, even their parents.”

“The basis of any rehab center is a space guaranteed to be cleared of drugs, hence the closed premises, hence always »illegal detention.« All law enforcement knows this, so if there is no political support from the regional authorities, they will shut it down and imprison [someone] at any moment,” noted Yevgeny Roizman*.

According to him, addicts may exaggerate their suffering due to harsh conditions. Heart-to-heart talks with a psychologist cannot cure them.

“Drug addicts consider it torture even if they have to wash, cook, and clean up after themselves. Oddly enough, harsh conditions, but without humiliation, work in their favor. I don»t believe in psychologists at all; I«ve never seen a psychologist persuade a drug addict to stop using drugs. In general, a law on compulsory treatment is needed, which exists in all civilized countries, but the state should handle this,” said Roizman*.

He believes that the background of this case could be anything, and it»s too early to draw conclusions. Residents might have complained about the center to get back to freedom, but it«s possible that the victim was indeed beaten.

“Anything can happen there. The clientele is like that. They»re not Nobel laureates or conservatory graduates,” noted Yevgeny Roizman*.

The uproar began after in the Moscow region a center employee who abused children was detained. He is from Yekaterinburg and colleagues are sure he was framed.

Children from the rehab near Yekaterinburg told how they were abused in the center. We also published stories from people living near the cottage.

We reported on the inspection in the center in real-time, all news is collected in a special section.

*recognized in Russia as a foreign agent individual in 2022