Russian teenager persecuted under anti-gay propaganda law for ‘posting pictures’
A teenager has been found guilty and fined 50,000 rubes (£600) under Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law.
16-year-old Maxim Neverov, was charged with “propaganda of homosexuality among minors”, for publishing pictures on a Russian social network.
The Russian LGBT Network, who provided a lawyer for Neverov, published the story on its website on August 8.
According to the report of the offence, Neverov,who is from the town of Biysk, published “some pictures of young men whose appearance (partly nude body parts) had the characteristics of propaganda of homosexual relations.”
The Russian LGBT Network claimed the teen was not allowed to consult his lawyer when the officer was filing the report.
The group also suggested that Neverov could have been targeted because he took part in a highly public protest called “Gays or Putin,” in May.
The performance was discussed in the Russian federal legislative assembly, known as the Duma.
Neverov had previously submitted 12 applications for permission for the performance, and he was refused a permit. The teen also attempted to organise a local pride parade.
According to the network, in the teenagers case materials there was a document which reported that there was a public outcry over the pride parade.
The LGBT Network’s lawyer, Artem Lapov, has appealed the outcome and said the decision violated the right to freedom of expression.
In addition Lapov said the commission did not prove the fact that the discussed posts in the social networks were posted by Neverov, and he himself refused to testify.
The group is awaiting a decision to be made on the appeal.
Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law was passed in 2013 banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships.”
The country began to crackdown on LGBT+ activism across the country.
In Chechnya, Russia, Amnesty International has called on the Russian authorities to promptly and effectively investigate the reports of abduction, secret detention, torture and killing of men believed to be gay in the Chechen Republic.