‘In Short, We Will Deport You’: Disrupted temporalities of migrants with HIV in Russia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Migrants experience several challenges en route to or in their host country. Current legislation in Russia imposes a permanent ban on international migrants with HIV obtaining a residence permit in Russia. Using qualitative methodology, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 international migrants who have lived with HIV in Russia and 12 interviews with healthcare providers in Russia. With the help of Bonnington’s temporal framework, the study finds that the HIV-positive status of migrants becomes a biographical event that interrupts their migration cycle, thereby leading to the disruption of their normal life course which results in ‘short term planning’ and instability. Although most people living with HIV face similar challenges, Russian law concerning international migrants living with HIV worsens their living experience in Russia. International migrants living with HIV further face social exclusion, serious stigma and discrimination. The results show that the country’s demand for migrants with HIV to leave the country to reduce the spread of HIV in Russia is counterproductive: it does not mobilise heath-seeking behaviour among migrants. Therefore, such legislation has to be amended to encourage international migrants living with HIV to access adequate HIV services.