From “Plague” to Life: How the Russian Media Has Shaped Our View of HIV Over the Decades

In the latest episode of the podcast "We had sex" Doberman Media's best friend Roma Polyakov works with the guests to figure out The History of How HIV and AIDS Have Been Portrayed in the Russian Media, ranging from the Soviet era to contemporary YouTube projects. The discussion features the director of the series “Patient Zero” Igor Sadreev, an HIV-positive blogger Sergey Dubachev and activist Yana Kolpakova. This is an honest discussion of how Russia has gone from completely denying the problem and using intimidation tactics to engaging in open dialogue and combating stigma.

The podcast takes a detailed look at the evolution of the discourse: from statements by Soviet ministers that “such categories do not exist” in the USSR to the first public service announcements featuring the band “Lyceum” and advertisements in the subway. The participants recall how, in the 1990s, the topic of HIV was pushed to the sidelines due to the abundance of other problems, even though that was precisely when the epidemic began to gain momentum.

Particular attention is paid to how Popular culture fostered fears: through Zemfira's depressing music videos, the terrifying episodes of *Kommissar Rex*, and posthumous interviews with celebrities.

A key part of the episode was an analysis of the period of “information chaos” in the 2000s, when federal channels provided a platform To HIV Dissenters, casting doubt on the very existence of the virus. The guests discuss how, against this backdrop, Vladimir Pozner’s educational projects and the unexpected support from artists such as Denis Klyaver stood out.

Today, the situation has changed thanks to YouTube journalism and personal blogs. The film Yuri Dudya A video about HIV that has garnered millions of views, along with the efforts of activists such as Yana Kolpakova and Sergey Dubachev, are helping society see HIV not as a “punishment,” but as a health condition with which one can live a full life.