Russian TV host Pavel Lobkov – a presenter on the independent station Dozhd – announced he is HIV-positive live on television to mark World AIDS Day. Lobkov has been subjected to a stream of homophobic abuse following his announcement, reports Pink News.
Lobkov’s announcement makes him the first Russian public figure to openly declare himself HIV positive. He said his diagnosis was revealed to him ten years ago. “The doctor, with a face like a Soviet buddha, told me: ‘You can no longer use the program of voluntary medical insurance because you’ve been diagnosed with HIV,’” Lobkov said.
HIV/AIDS is a growing threat in Russia in recent years, with a near-doubling of people who have been diagnosed with HIV from around 500,000 in 2010 to 930,000 people.
