Russia Arrests Two LGBTQ Managers In First Extremism Case

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Under the new law criminalising the LGBTQ community, a Russian court has ordered two bar workers to be placed in custody accusing them of playing a role in an ‘extremist organization’. This is the first case since the country banned the international LGBT movement last year in November.

The Orenburg tribunal said, “The court chose a preventive measure for the art director and administrator of the Pose bar,” According to the court the duo will remain in custody until 18 May and may face up to 10 years in prison if they are convicted. The tribunal had earlier accused the two suspects of  “promoting non-traditional sexual relations among the visitors of the bar”.

Law enforcement raided the bar earlier this year since then videos of humiliating detentions of some visitors circulated online. The court shared on Telegram,

“The accused, people of non-traditional sexual orientation, acted in premeditation with a group of people … who also support the views and activities of the international public association LGBT,”

Russia has shared only a vague description of what it describes as the “international LGBT movement”, paving the way for the prosecution of anyone identifying with the community or protecting LGBTQ rights. Ekaterina Mizulina, the director of the League of the Safe Internet and a figurehead of the ultra-traditional faction hailed the proceedings.

Mizulina shared that local activists told the police about the club adding, “This is the first criminal case in Russia after the decision of the Supreme Court to recognise LGBT as an extremist movement,” Amnesty International shared, “What LGBTQ persons and human rights activists have feared since the end of last year has finally come to pass.”In 2013, lawmakers banned citizens from promoting non-traditional relationships with their children, causing a rise in pressure on liberal corners of society.

The Kremlin has also ramped up conservative rhetoric after launching its military assault on Ukraine, casting the conflict against the West and its liberal values. In December 2022, Vladimir Putin criminalized any positive mention of LGBTQ people or relationships.

Last year in July, lawmakers banned administrative procedures and medical interventions that allowed people to change their gender. In November, the Supreme Court passed the LGBT movement ban. Amnesty shared, “The international community must call on Russian authorities to review the homophobic supreme court ruling and immediately stop persecution of LGBTI persons.”

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