Russian court rules transgender woman was fired illegally

A Russian court has ruled that a transgender woman was fired illegally after she was let go when she transitioned.

Anna Grigoryeva had been working for a printing press in Russia for 10 years before she came out as transgender, according to Radio Free Europe.

However, when Grigoryeva registered as a woman in 2017, she was let go. The employer claimed that they had to fire her because of a government law introduced in 2000 which stops women from working in over 35 industries.

That law was ruled to be in violation of women’s rights and in need of amendment by the United Nations in 2016.

The court ordered the printing company to give transgender woman Anna Grigoryeva her job back

In a ruling yesterday (April 9), the Frunze District Court ordered that Grigoryeva must be offered her job back.

They also instructed the printing company to pay her 10,000 rubles (£118) in compensation and 1.8 million rubles (£21,366) in backpay.

“For the first time in Russia, a transgender person has managed to defend her labour rights in court.”

– Anna Grigoryeva’s lawyer Maksim Olenichev

Grigoryeva’s lawyer, Maksim Olenichev told RFE/RL that the victory set a “very important precedent” in Russia.

“For the first time in Russia, a transgender person has managed to defend her labour rights in court,” the lawyer added.

Olenichev also said the verdict “will give a confidence boost to transgender people to defend their rights in Russia.”

Pride (Pexels)