Date: Fri, 06 Jan 1995 21:05:46 -0800 (PST)
From: International Gay Lesbian Human Rights Commission <iglhrc@igc.apc.org>
Subject: RUSSIA:Compulsory HIV Testing VETOE

UPDATE

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VETOES COMPULSORY HIV TESTING 
LEGISLATION

In December 1994 the President of the Russian Federation, Boris 
Yeltsin, vetoed legislation which would have required all foreigners 
living in Russia or seeking to enter the country for any reason to be 
tested for HIV. Both houses of the Russian parliament had previously 
passed the bill precipitating a strong international campaign calling 
on Yeltsin to veto.

If the bill had become law, foreigners who had refused to take the 
HIV antibody test or who had tested positive would not have been 
allowed entry into Russia or would have been deported.  The 
legislation would also have required that Russian citizens who work 
in "certain" professions or receive certain forms of medical care be 
tested.  The word "certain" was not defined in the legislation.