In September 2025, a city criminal court in Uzbekistan convicted a male defendant of knowingly exposing another person to the risk of HIV infection and committing an act of hooliganism involving minor injury.
According to the court findings, the defendant had been diagnosed with HIV in 2007 while serving a prison sentence and had been formally informed in 2009 of the legal consequences of exposing others to infection. However, between 2020 and 2025 he allegedly entered into a long-term relationship with a woman without disclosing his HIV status. The couple lived together and had unprotected sexual relations. The woman stated in court that she was aware of his HIV status, that they had both obtained HIV medication from a local AIDS center, and that he took his treatment regularly. She confirmed that she was in good health and had no claims against him.
The case also involved a separate incident in May 2025, when the defendant, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, engaged in an argument in a public area and injured another man with a kitchen knife. The victim sustained a minor wound to the forearm. Both victims later stated that they did not wish to pursue claims against the defendant.
The court considered the defendant’s full confession and remorse as mitigating circumstances and his intoxicated state at the time of the assault as an aggravating factor. It also took into account his illness, family situation, and the absence of complaints from the victims.
The court found him guilty under Article 113 (Part 4) and Article 277 (Part 2, paragraph “c”) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan and sentenced him to five years of restricted liberty. The sentence combined earlier unserved penalties, during which he must comply with conditions such as not leaving his residence outside of work hours, abstaining from alcohol, and not leaving the region without authorization.
Time already served in pretrial detention was deducted from the total sentence. The court also ordered the destruction of the knife used in the assault.
Both the defendant and victims were informed of their right to appeal the verdict within ten days.
