HIV activism in modern Russia: from NGOs to community development

In the context of the spreading HIV epidemic in Russia and the lack of government's effectiveness in addressing this problem, the role and the importance of HIV activism in protecting the rights and improving the quality of life of HIV positive people have been increasing. This article focuses on the development of the HIV community in St. Petersburg, one of the largest and the most problematic, in terms of the HIV epidemic, cities in Russia The research was conducted within the qualitative methodology, using ethnographic case-study methods and biographical interviews. The authors use the analysis of field observations and nineteen interviews with men and women involved in HIV activism in St. Petersburg to show how collective actions of NGOs and action groups form the city HIV community through working with different groups and the development of participants' agency.