EBN- The Russian Justice Ministry declared that authorities had identified “signs and manifestations of an extremist nature” by an LGBTQ+ “movement” operating in Russia.
The ruling in effect outlaws LGBTQ in a country growing increasingly conservative since the start of the war in Ukraine.
The label could mean that gay, lesbian, transgender or queer people living in Russia could receive lengthy prison sentences if deemed by the authorities to be part of the so called “international LGBT public movement”.
The justice ministry earlier this month filed a request that the “international LGBT movement” be labelled extremist, without clarifying what it meant under the term, which is not a registered entity in Russia but rather a broad definition used by the Russian authorities.
Multiple rights activists have pointed out that the lawsuit targeted the “international civic LGBT movement,” which is not an entity but rather a broad and vague definition that would allow Russian authorities to crack down on any individuals or groups deemed to be part of the “movement.”
“Even though there is no such thing as an international LGBT movement, it is clear that all legal activities of LGBT organisations will be impossible in Russia,” said Igor Kochetkov, the head of the rights group Russian LGBT Network.
Lucy Shtein, a Russian political activist and member of the Pussy Riot art collective said that “everyone who identifies themselves as part of the LGBTQ+ movement could now become a target”.
Thursday’s hearing took place behind closed doors and with no defendant.
