More than 100 people have been convicted of LGBTQ+ ‘extremism’ in Russia

Russian authorities have convicted more than 100 people of LGBTQ+ “extremism”. 

Under Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ law, the so-called international public LGBT movement was deemed to be an extremist group.

The law, which effectively criminalises all forms of LGBTQ+ activism, came into effect in January 2024. Since then, Russian courts have handed down 101 “extremism-related” convictions for participation in the “international LGBT movement” or for displaying its supposed symbols, Human Rights Watch reported. 

It is thought that 98 cases involved administrative or other minor offences, with the rest for criminal liability. 

‘They are flagrantly violating Russians’ rights to free expression’

Hugh Williamson, director of the Europe & Central Asia division of Human Rights Watch, said: “Russian authorities weaponise and misuse the justice system as a tool in their draconian crusade to enforce ‘traditional values’ and marginalise and censor LGBT people. 

“They are flagrantly violating Russians’ rights to free expression, association and non-discrimination.”

Human Rights Watch have reportedly been able to identify the cases, which date from November 2023, when Russia’s Supreme Court declared LGBTQ+ activism illegal, through official channels.

The charity pointed out that two leading Russian LGBTQ+ rights organisations, Coming Out and Sphere, “experienced a substantial rise in requests for assistance with departure, processing humanitarian visas, seeking asylum and emergency evacuation under circumstances of persecution”, in the months following the Supreme Court ruling. 

“Russia’s international partners should call on the government to end its persecution of LGBT people and their supporters,” Williamson went on to say. “Other governments should also provide safe haven and meaningful protection to those fleeing Russia [who] fear prosecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and their public expressions of support for LGBT rights.” 

The hard-line Russian government is creating an electronic database of LGBTQ+ people in the country, Latvia-based independent Russian-language news outlet Meduza has claimed, and the country’s anti-propaganda law has already led to bar staff and venue owners being jailed, more than 50 club-goers being detained, language-learning app Duolingo being forced to remove inclusive content, and a student being expelled from university for posting make-up videos.

In January, a man was fined for joking that he had “started” the international LGBTQ+ rights movement, and a month earlier, another man accused of running a queer travel agency was found dead in his police cell.

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