This is a new step in the Kremlin's crusade against sexual minorities. Russia has placed the "international LGBT movement" on its list of people declared "terrorists and extremists", according to a notice from the Russian financial intelligence service consulted on Friday March 22 by AFP, the authorities having stepped up the repression of sexual minorities.
The “international LGBT movement” had already been banned by the Russian Supreme Court in November 2023, even though no organization with that name exists in Russia.
This wording, although vague, opened the way to heavy prison sentences.
President Vladimir Putin, who has just been reappointed at the head of his country for six years, has long promoted "family" and religion in the face of a West described as "decadent", even "Satanist".
And since the large-scale attack against Ukraine, launched at the end of February 2022, the Russian authorities have also increasingly repressed sexual minorities.
“Non-traditional sexual relationships”
On Wednesday, the authorities announced that they had placed in pre-trial detention the managers of a bar in the Urals, who risk up to ten years in prison for LGBT+ “extremism”.
According to the prosecution, "during the investigation it was established that the defendants, people with non-traditional sexual orientation, (...) also support the views and activities of the banned international LGBT public association in our country".
Also read: Ban on the LGBT+ movement in Russia: “Putin exploits the fear of homosexuals”
This is the first criminal case for this reason, but several Russians have been fined in recent weeks for, for example, posting photos featuring rainbow flags online or, in the case of two women, for broadcasting a video of their kiss online.
Since 2013, a law in Russia has prohibited the "propaganda" of "non-traditional sexual relations" aimed at minors.
This legislation was considerably expanded at the end of 2022 to now prohibit all forms of LGBT+ “propaganda” in the media, on the Internet, in books and in films.
In July 2023, Russian deputies also voted for a law banning transgender people from surgical operations and hormonal therapies.
With AFP
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