Dr. Serwjetski: "Fortunately it happens that the epidemic doesn't develop that rapidly. Not as rapidly, as we ourselves had predicted. According to our data there are over 18,000 HIV-infected persons registered in the district Odessa."

Maria Didenko: "I think... The affair is much more serious, than depicted in the media. At a WHO meeting, in the presence of representatives of the public, 2 years ago in Odessa, some WHO experts produced a situation report, and projected the official figures on the actual ones. The results were terrifying. They said, we had to multiply the official figures for Odessa with eight."

Dr. Serwjetski: "This figure is absolutely unrealistic. Our centre maintains its database since 1987. It contains all data concerning HIV-infection till this date. And we also calculate the dark figure and 140 or 170.000 is an unrealistic figure. The maximum amount of HIV-infected persons doesn't succeed 40.000."


Maria Didenko: "The research results, presented in the press or in scientific reports, are directly related to the awarding authority."


Dr. Serwjetski: "The figures, if I get you right - 150, 170.000 - These are inflated figures lacking any serious foundation. Randomly inflated figures."