MOSCOW, August 26 (RAPSI) - As the State Duma prepares amendments to the law on blood donation, homosexuals may be included among the list of high-risk donors, and the question of sexual orientation will be asked of potential donors, Mikhail Degtyaryov, a member of the nationalist LDPR party and candidate for Moscow mayor, said at a news conference at RIA Novosti on Monday.

In 2008, homosexuals were excluded from the risk group. The number of HIV-positive people among them has since increased considerably, Degtyaryov said. Furthermore, there is a similar ban in the USA and some European countries, he added.

This isn't about discrimination, he said; this is first of all a health measure.

A new Russian law on the donation of blood, which includes a provision banning the sale of blood, entered into force on January 21.

It was adopted by the State Duma in July 2012 and approved by the Federation Council on July 18, 2012.

According to the law, a blood bank will be created which will include information about the amount of donated, processed and stored blood and its components, citing the blood and Rh blood group, information about blood transfusions, and people forbidden to donate blood and it components following medical examinations. The law further stipulates social support for donors.