Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 13:33:13 +0100 (NFT)
From: Bj|rn Skolander <Bjorn.Skolander@nordiska.uu.se>
Subject: RUSSIA: Yeltsin Says No to Mandatory HIV-Testing 


According to the minutes at the RUSSIA PANEL Workshop at the Helsinki ILGA
Conference President Yeltsin has refused to sign a proposal for mandatory
HIV testing of all foreigners and stateless persons in Russia, and Russian
citizens in order to work in certain professions and receive medical care.

Bjorn
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RUSSIA PANEL               Workshop No. 36 - Minutes

Facilitator:  Kevin Gardner - AESOP Centre, Russia, for Part I;
Minutes by Sergei Tiotsky.  Attenders from:  Finland, Estonia, Russia,
Ukraine, Latvia, USA - total approximately 20.

Part I - Draft HIV/AIDS Law in Russia:
**************************************

Part I:  A new law on HIV/AIDS in Russia began being drafted in
spring of 1994.  In the first version, a provision for the
mandatory testing of people "who threaten the mass spread of
HIV-infection" caused concern that certain groups, including
homosexuals, would be targeted.  The AESOP Centre began a
letter-writing campaign that was announced at the ILGA Eastern
European Conference in Palanga, and with the help of
international organizations and the media, pressure grew to make
changes in the draft law.  However, the third and final version
passed by the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian
parliament, in November went even further to require mandatory
HIV testing of all foreigners and stateless persons in Russia,
and Russian citizens in order to work in certain professions and
receive medical care.  Thanks to the efforts of NGOs and the
media, pressure grew to convince President Yeltsin not to sign
the law, and it was returned to the State Duma at the end of
December for reworking.  This is the first time in Russia that
NGOs have been able to successfully impact on AIDS policy.


NGO = Non-govermental organisations