A high profile expert with 23 years of experience in public health, HIV/AIDS, drug policy, sustainability of public health services, social contracting, human rights of key populations and community mobilization, accountable financing and anti-corruption, healthcare reform, drug policy, humanitarian aid in conflict circumstances, etc.

Protective laws for key populations contribute to better HIV outcomes, while criminalization of these populations and discriminatory laws undermine success. In EECA region, drug legislation is primarily repressive, imposing severe criminal sanctions on people who use drugs. Recently the situation became even worse due to Russian’s influence to neighboring countries.
The Central and Eastern European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy (ECECACD) was initiated by Alexander Kwasniewski, former President of Poland gathering opinion leaders from the region in order to inspire better drug policy based on scientific evidence and human rights. The Commissioners are regional leaders: former Heads of State, politicians, former members of Parliaments, diplomats, scientists, and philanthropists. The core role of the Commission is advocacy for better drug policy at the high political level.
During last four years, Commissioners have conducted country missions to Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Georgia. During these visits Commissioners have meetings with highest political leaders including Presidents of the states.
Currently EU accession perspectives provide a great window of opportunities for the candidate countries: Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. ECECACD provides expertise and support to governments to reform drug policies in compliance with EU requirements and standards.
High political level advocacy resulted with political support to progressive reforms: 1. In 2024 Kyrgyzstan has abolished compulsory narcological treatment; 2. In 2022 Lithuanian Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs approved amendments to the Administrative and Criminal Code that propose to decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis; 3. In June of 2024 Commissioners met with President Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan to support of OAT; 4. Moldovan Government will develop a new national strategy on drug policy and create an independent state body on drugs.
The ECECACD has unique and special role: advocacy at high political level that is very effective in targeting top officials and facilitating reforms.