Drug abuse and drug trafficking have become one of the most acute social problems in the Russian Federation. This profile report was developed to assist the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the development of UNODC strategic programs for Russia. The report is divided into seven major sections that include: (1) background and overview of the drug and crime situation; (2) drug and crime statistics; (3) major political and economical events; (4) socio-economic characteristics; (5) drug situation; (6) crime situation; and (7) drug and crime policy. Official Russian statistics, data from the Russian State Committee for Statistics, Ministries of Internal Affairs, Health, and Education, and the Russian Federal AIDS Center were the primary sources of information for this report. Tables, graphs, annex I and II, and references