Russia’s Supreme Court declared on Thursday that LGBT activists would be classified as extremists. Representatives of the gay and transgender community are concerned that this ruling will result in increased arrests and prosecutions.
The court approved a request from the justice ministry to designate the “international LGBT social movement” as extremist, leading to a ban on its activities. This move aligns with Russia’s broader trend of tightening restrictions on expressions of sexual orientation and gender identity. Existing laws already outlaw the promotion of “non-traditional” sexual relations and prohibit legal or medical changes of gender.
President Vladimir Putin, likely to announce his candidacy for a new six-year term in March, has consistently portrayed Russia as a defender of traditional moral values in contrast to what he perceives as a decadent West. Last year, he expressed the view that the West could adopt “strange, new-fangled trends” but had no right to impose them on other countries.
Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the Kremlin was not closely following the case and had no immediate comment on it.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which took around five hours, follows the justice ministry’s request on Nov. 17. The ministry cited “various signs and manifestations of extremist orientation, including the incitement of social and religious discord” without providing specific examples from the activities of the LGBT movement in Russia.
LGBT activists anticipated this decision as inevitable and now fear the serious and real threat it poses. Over 100 groups are already banned in Russia as “extremist,” with previous listings leading to arrests, as seen with the Jehovah’s Witnesses and organizations linked to opposition politician Alexei Navalny.
The new ruling may force activities such as psychological and legal support underground, impacting the crucial support network for many LGBT individuals.
