Proposed Aids Law Called Ineffective

A proposed law on mandatory AIDS tests is an ineffective, costly measure that would be nearly impossible to implement, Western and Russian activists charged Thursday.

The law fails to prevent discrimination against AIDS sufferers and violates Russia’s international obligations, they said at a news conference.

“This law should not be passed. It is not enough to change or improve it a little bit. Everything should be developed anew,” said Nikolai Nedzelsky of the private Russian Names Fund, which counsels AIDS patients.

The law was approved by the Russian parliament last month but must still to be signed by President Boris Yeltsin.

It would require mandatory AIDS tests for foreigners seeking to stay in Russia longer than three months, refugees, Russian employees of certain businesses and institutions, and prison inmates.