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Sergey searches for a vein to inject heroin into, gropes his arm, he says, "Take your photos."
Sergei, 38, has been dependent for more than 20 years. He has had some deprivations and has relapsed each time. Sergey is one of several pianists who met and photographed the photographer Aleksandr Martynov whose stories he heard.
1.3 million people in Russia regularly inject themselves with drugs, according to the authors of the UN Drug Report, referring to 2016. Russia has a repressive drug policy. Those who buy drugs for personal use will be prosecuted. Almost one in four prisoners in Russia is involved in drug-related crimes, and every year over 40,000 Russians end up behind bars - most of them are not salespeople but consumers.
Photographer Martynov met Sergei in his apartment. He describes the rooms as a "narcotic room". On the walls lack wallpaper, cracks stretched over the ceilings. When the photographer arrived, Sergei had already set the first shot of the day.
The photographer also accompanied Mitja and Julia, a drug-addicted couple, both HIV-positive. Julia has a three-year-old son, whom she shields as much as possible from her addiction. She does not want him to suffer the same fate as his mother. Julia is dependent since she was 22 years old.
Locations and surnames in this story are not mentioned by the photographer as protection: people should not be immediately identifiable. Drug addiction is often associated with stigmatization and social exclusion in Russia.
These are stories of people who are still waiting for the crucial help that will help them to live without drugs. "It seems to me," Martynov says about the protagonists, "that their lives are already over, from the moment they first took drugs."
Read in the photo gallery the reports of Sergei, Mitja and Julia:
photo gallery
13 pictures
Drug addicts in Russia: "As in a narcotic chamber"This article is part of the project Global Society, for which our reporters report from four continents. The project is long-term and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is the project Global Society?
Under the title Global Society, reporters from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will be reporting on injustices in a globalized world, socio-political challenges and sustainable development. The reportages, analyzes, photo galleries, videos and podcasts appear in the Politics Department of SPIEGEL. The project is long-term and will be supported over three years by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Are the journalistic contents independent of the foundation?
Yes. The editorial content is created without the influence of the Gates Foundation.
Do other media have similar projects?
Yes. Major European media such as "The Guardian" and "El País" have created similar sections on their news pages with "Global Development" or "Planeta Futuro" with the support of the Gates Foundation.
Was there already similar projects at SPIEGEL ONLINE?
SPIEGEL ONLINE has already implemented two projects in recent years with the European Journalism Center (EJC) and the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The "Expedition The Day After tomorrow" on Global Sustainability Goals and the journalistic refugee project "The New Arrivals" Several award-winning multimedia reports on the topics of migration and escape have emerged.
Where can I find all the publications on the Global Society?
The pieces can be found at SPIEGEL ONLINE on the topic page Global Society.