On July 28, 2025, the Karshi City Criminal Court (Uzbekistan) issued a verdict in a case concerning the prosecution of a woman living with HIV for failure to disclose her status and for exposing her partner to the risk of HIV transmission.
The court found that the defendant, who had been diagnosed with HIV in March 2024 and formally warned about criminal liability for transmission, nonetheless continued to live with her partner and engage in unprotected sexual relations without disclosure. Medical testimony and records from the Kashkadarya Regional AIDS Center confirmed her HIV status, registration, and refusal to adhere to medical treatment.
The prosecution charged her under Part 4 of Article 113 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (criminal liability for knowingly putting another person at risk of HIV infection).
The defendant pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and requested leniency. The court considered her admission of guilt, difficult living conditions, lack of prior convictions, and family circumstances as mitigating factors. No aggravating circumstances were found.
The court imposed a sentence of three years and six months of restriction of liberty, rather than imprisonment, with specific restrictions including:
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residence at her current address under supervision,
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prohibition on attending public events or moving residence without permission, and
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restriction from leaving the Kashkadarya region.
Supervision of the sentence was assigned to the probation department of Karshi City. Both the defendant and the victim retain the right to appeal within 10 days of the verdict.
