In September 2025, a district criminal court in Tashkent convicted a woman under Part 4 of Article 113 of the Criminal Code for knowingly placing another person at risk of HIV transmission. The defendant had been diagnosed with HIV in 2019, registered with the regional AIDS centre, and formally informed of her legal obligations, including the duty to disclose her status to sexual partners and to use protection, as well as the risk of criminal liability.
Despite this, between May and August 2024 she engaged in repeated consensual vaginal and oral sexual intercourse with a partner without disclosing her HIV status, thereby exposing him to a real risk of infection. The defendant admitted the facts, acknowledged that she had not disclosed her status, and expressed remorse. The victim confirmed that no disclosure had been made and later filed a complaint after being informed by law enforcement; he tested HIV-negative and stated that he had no claims against the defendant.
The court found the offence proven based on the defendant’s confession, the victim’s testimony, medical records from the AIDS centre, and other corroborating evidence. In sentencing, the court took into account the seriousness of the offence, as well as mitigating factors including the defendant’s lack of prior convictions, full admission of guilt, remorse, family responsibilities, and the victim’s request for leniency.
The defendant was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. However, applying the provisions on suspended sentences, the court ordered that the sentence be conditionally suspended with a probation period of three years, subject to supervision by probation authorities and compliance with reporting obligations. The judgment may be appealed through the standard appellate and cassation procedures.
