On 11 February 2026, a district criminal court in Uzbekistan convicted a woman under Article 113(4) of the Criminal Code for knowingly placing another person at risk of HIV infection.
The court established that the defendant had been diagnosed with HIV in January 2016, registered with the regional AIDS centre, informed about transmission routes, and formally warned of criminal liability for HIV exposure. However, beginning in 2020 she entered into a relationship and lived with a male partner for several years, engaging in repeated sexual relations without initially disclosing her HIV status. Some encounters occurred without protection. The partner learned of the diagnosis during medical testing abroad and subsequently filed a complaint.
At trial, the defendant pleaded guilty, acknowledged awareness of her status, and expressed remorse. She stated that she had sometimes used protection and that after disclosure protection was consistently used. The affected person testified that he would not have entered the relationship had he known the diagnosis, but indicated he had no civil claim against the defendant.
The court relied on the defendant’s confession, testimony from the affected person, epidemiological investigation records, written warnings regarding criminal liability, and other documentary evidence. It concluded that the legal qualification under Article 113(4) was correct and that the defendant knowingly placed another person at risk of infection.
In sentencing, the court considered mitigating factors including remorse, confession, lack of prior convictions, and personal circumstances. An aggravating factor was identified as intentional conduct. Applying Article 57 of the Criminal Code, the court imposed a sentence below the statutory custodial range.
The defendant was sentenced to 1 year and 2 months’ imprisonment in a general-regime correctional colony and taken into custody in the courtroom. Bail was cancelled and ordered returned to relatives after the judgment entered into force. The court noted the absence of civil claims and informed the parties of the right to pursue compensation separately. The judgment may be appealed within ten days.
