Russia to Hold "Miss Positive-2005" Contest

As Russia's Surgeon General Gennady Onischenko told Interfax, Russia will hold a more unusual contest on December 1, World AIDS Day.

Following the Miss Penitentiary 2005 contest in Brasilia, Russia is now taking this type of events one step further by announcing the "Miss Positive-2005" contest.

Gennady Onischenko admits that it sounds a little bit strange, but he is determined to change the general public's attitude towards HIV and AIDS.

"It sounds absurd, someone may say this idea is offensive, but why not hold this beauty contest among HIV-positive girls", Onishchenko said at a press conference.

"With this small action we are trying to change the general public's attitude. Why can't these people live like ordinary people do? They can and they should, in any society. Just like people live with hepatitis B and other diseases", he added.

According to Pravda, Gennady Onischenko is known for his extraordinary ideas he sometimes suggests. For instance, he says Russia would have extirpated prostitution when pimps who sell women's love for money "are hung for their tender organs on trees until they realize the immensity of the evil they do". He believes the measure would be effective in fighting prostitution.