HIV/AIDS in the USSR?

We have had threads on how a post-1991 USSR might have reacted to the internet, etc, well how would it would have reacted to the rising prevalence of HIV during the early 1990's?
IIRC contemporary Russia has notably higher HIV/AIDS infection rates than W. Europe or N. America.
 
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Do the Soviets connect it to homosexuality like the West does? If so, I'd expect a similar misunderstanding of the disease as a Gay disease, and a similar stigma. The Soviets also were not known for their friendliness to minorities and those they considered deviants, and I believe they had (and have) a bigotry against homosexuals more prevalent than that in other nations, so that may play into some pretty nasty things.
 
The Soviets also were not known for their friendliness to minorities.

Would have to disagree with you there, with exception to "deviants".

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Russia is more so connected to the declining lifestyle of the Russian. Deteriorating conditions and connection with the West led to boom in these diseases more than anything. It would really have to depend on how this USSR survives, through hard-line efforts or liberalization. Liberalization is most certainly going to bring in HIV/AIDS, but if it can be accompanied by good living standards, then it won't be as "bad".

Hard-line USSR will fare better, but addressing the eventuality of HIV/AIDS in the Soviets will be much more difficult and it could be denied for quite some time. Another issue is the Warsaw Pact states and how bad it gets for them. If states like Romania or Poland become particularly affected by it, lax visitation could lead to a steady stream of HIV infected individuals.
 
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