Latvia hands down first real prison sentence for deliberate HIV infection
Alise, now 35, has won a landmark case in Latvia, securing the country's first custodial sentence for a man who deliberately infected her with HIV. She says the relationship was serious, with plans for marriage, family and children.
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Latvia has seen a historic court ruling – a man has been given a real prison sentence for deliberately transmitting HIV, the first such verdict in the country's legal history. The victim, identified only as Alise, is now 35 and has spent more than ten years fighting for justice.
Alise emphasizes that the relationship with the convicted man was not a casual affair. In her words, it was with this person that she planned a family, marriage and children. The deliberate infection drew a line under her full life, turning her future into a daily struggle and exposing her to public stigma.
The verdict marks the first time that a Latvian court has imposed an actual prison term in a case of intentional HIV transmission. Alise hopes the ruling will send a strong message and provide greater recognition for victims of such crimes.
The article was originally published in the TVNET+ archive in February 2026.
