Putin outed by Moscow 12-step group

Russian President reportedly
struggling with addiction.

by Dallas J. Delta

MOSCOW - Despite the tenets of such organizations which stress absolute anonymity, several members of the Tverskaya Street Twelve-Steppers Narcotics Anonymous group came forward today claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin had for years been a regular member of their group, but recently had stopped attending meetings.

"Vlad came to our group every week, and several other groups around Moscow," said Ivor W., a former heroin junkie, now clean eleven months.  "I never really talked to him, personally, but he sponsored a buddy of mine I was in treatment with.  He quit coming not too long after I got clean,  but he when he was around, he always had some really great things to say when he shared."

Yevginy X. credits the group, and Putin specifically, with saving his life.  X. was dying from methamphetamine addiction when a social worker told him about the group.

He said, "Vlad P., well, Putin, I guess I can say now, anyway, Vlad, was one of the first people I met at the first meeting I went to.  He was making coffee, and I had the jitters so bad I was spilling mine all over the place.  He gave me another cup and said, 'Don't worry about the mess, tovarisch.  We will tell everyone the Chechens did it.'"

X. said that meeting led to a years-long friendship and that he became close with Putin as he overcame his addiction. He said that Putin was very active in the Moscow addiction recovery community, and usually went to at least four or five 12-step meetings a week.

"Sometimes he would go to more," X. said, "if he was having a really bad week.  Vlad struggled with recovery.  It was never easy for him, but it seemed like he was working a good program, keeping things in check, trying to help people.  Some people in the groups gave him a hard time, though, because he never wanted to wear a shirt, and because his addiction wasn't actually to drugs."

X. explained that some 12-step groups are very strict about membership.  Groups that cater to specific intoxicants such as alcohol, narcotics, or sex in many cases do not permit cross-contamination within their membership rosters.  X. said that despite this, Putin had found meetings where he was accepted, and that he had been an enthusiastic participant at meetings, often leading discussions on various topics.

"Vlad couldn't very well find a 'Power Mad Lunatics Anonymous,' now, could he?  Being addicted to power is no different from being addicted to cocaine, or Scotch, or social media.  He was trying to find help, and he did, at least for a while.  Get in where you fit in, I say, and that's what he would say, too.  He was doing so good.  From what I can tell, he hasn't been to a meeting since the Olympics started, and now you see what he's gotten into.  He needs to call his sponsor, or call me, and get to a meeting."

The Tverskaya Street Twelve-Steppers meet at noon on Tuesdays at the Buffalo Event Room above Pushkin Pins Bowling Lanes.