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

摘要

Migrants experience several challenges en route to or in their hostcountry. Current legislation in Russia imposes a permanent ban oninternational migrants with HIV obtaining a residence permit in Russia.Using qualitative methodology, we conducted semi-structuredinterviews with 15 international migrants who have lived with HIV inRussia and 12 interviews with healthcare providers in Russia. With thehelp of Bonnington’s temporal framework, the study finds that the HIVpositivestatus of migrants becomes a biographical event that interruptstheir migration cycle, thereby leading to the disruption of their normallife course which results in ‘short term planning’ and instability.Although most people living with HIV face similar challenges, Russianlaw concerning international migrants living with HIV worsens theirliving experience in Russia. International migrants living with HIV furtherface social exclusion, serious stigma and discrimination. The resultsshow that the country’s demand for migrants with HIV to leave thecountry to reduce the spread of HIV in Russia is counterproductive: itdoes not mobilise heath-seeking behaviour among migrants. Therefore,such legislation has to be amended to encourage international migrantsliving with HIV to access adequate HIV services.