Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday, the 30th of November, declared LGBT activists “extremists” in response to a Justice Ministry request to ban the “international LGBT social movement”. The decision raises concerns among the LGBTQ+ community about possible arrests and prosecutions. The decision is in line with Russia’s growing restrictions on expressions of sexual orientation and gender identity, as evidenced by laws banning “non-traditional” relationships and prohibiting legal or medical gender reassignment, reports Reuters.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk has called on the Russian authorities to “immediately repeal laws that restrict the work of human rights defenders or discriminate against LGBT people”.
President Vladimir Putin, who is likely to announce his candidacy for a new six-year term, has underlined Russia’s image as a defender of traditional moral values against what he sees as a decadent West. He has said that tolerance of Western trends should not be imposed on other countries.
Before the court decision was announced, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin was “not following” the case and would not comment on it, according to Reuters.
The court session was closed to the media, but journalists were allowed to hear the verdict, which took about five hours to reach.
LGBT activists had seen the decision as inevitable
when on the 17th of November the Ministry of Justice submitted a request claiming, without giving any examples, that the activities of the LGBT movement in Russia showed “various signs and manifestations of extremism, including incitement to social and religious discord”, writes Reuters.
Following the court ruling, LGBT activist Ada Blakewell said the decision contradicts official Russian statements that the LGBT community is not discriminated. Blakewell, who for a year against her will underwent “conversion therapy”, said she would not be able to discuss such things after the ruling.
Public opinion in Moscow is divided on the court ruling. Some support a “free world” where people can love without restrictions, while others believe that same-sex relationships are “not normal” and consider the decision appropriate, as per Reuters.
More than 100 groups have been recognised as “extremist” in Russia,
including the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious movement and organisations linked to Alexei Navalny.
The lack of clarity in the court’s definition of “LGBT movement” raises concerns about possible abuses of the law, further suppressing the fundamental rights of the LGBT community, according Reuters said the UN Human Rights Office.
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