Day: June 8, 2026
Three Bird Nest
- Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan claims victory in election seen as test of Russia’s influence ABC News – Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Armenian PM Pashinyan declares victory in parliamentary elections Al Jazeera
- Armenia’s Prime Minister Declares Victory in Race Shadowed by Russia The New York Times
- Armenia’s pro-West government wins election despite Russian pressure BBC
- Armenia’s pro-Europe party wins election and cements shift away from Russia The Guardian
- Armenia’s Pashinyan seals election win but pro-Russian opposition polls strongly Reuters
- Armenia election: Prime Minister Pashinyan declares victory DW.com
- Armenians vote in general election watched closely by Russia and the West NPR
- Armenia PM Pashinyan’s ruling party wins landslide election victory France 24
Simon Rovensky, a 22-year-old Canadian student diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has been detained in Georgia after entering the country with Adderall, a medication used to treat the condition that is banned under Georgian law, without carrying the prescription, according to his family. He faces charges of large-scale drug smuggling and the illegal acquisition and possession of narcotic substances, carrying a potential prison sentence of eight to 20 years.
According to a GoFundMe campaign launched by his family, Rovensky, who is from Vancouver, traveled to Georgia with his friend, carrying medication prescribed by a Canadian physician for ADHD. The family told Canadian media that Rovensky had Adderall in an orange bottle bearing his doctor’s name, as well as a receipt, but did not have the prescription. “Because Simon was unaware that the medication was prohibited in Georgia, he did not declare it at the airport and was subsequently detained.”
The family said that Rovensky and his friend were subject to “many hours of questioning and a humiliating personal search,” as the customs officers conducted “an extremely invasive inspection.” Rovensky is reportedly being held at Tbilisi’s Gldani Prison pending court proceedings scheduled for June 25. Citing the lawyer, the family argued that there is “an established practice” where the court-imposed fine is paid to the state and the detainee is released and deported. They estimated that the fine in such cases ranges from USD 30,000 to USD 45,000.
They also said that Rovensky’s mother sought assistance from the Canadian embassy but was told diplomatic officials could not intervene in judicial proceedings. “The family feels that they have exhausted all hope of receiving assistance from the Canadian government,” the campaign stated.
The case has prompted renewed discussion about access to ADHD medication in Georgia. Commenting on the issue, narcologist Zurab Sikharulidze of the opposition Federalists party said Adderall is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, unlike in Georgia, is commonly prescribed for ADHD under medical supervision.
Sikharulidze argued that current regulations make both the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD “problematic” in Georgia. According to him, doctors are often reluctant to prescribe psychoactive medications because they “may be threatened with either license revocation or criminal liability.”
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