Russia’s Supreme Court has declared what it called the “international LGBTQ movement” an extremist organization and banned all activities associated with it in the country. The decision is expected to further diminish the rights of the LGBTQ community in Russia, which has already been facing an escalating crackdown.
Russia’s Supreme Court has declared what it called the “international LGBTQ movement” an extremist organization and banned all activities associated with it in the country.
The decision is expected to further diminish the rights of the LGBTQ community in Russia, which has already been facing an escalating crackdown.
Russia’s highest court found in favour of a motion filed by the Ministry of Justice which claimed the LGBTQ community risked “inciting social and religious discord”, in violation of Russia’s Law on Countering Extremism, according to a statement from the UN condemning the decision.
Despite the absence of a legally recognized LGBTQ community in Russia due to discriminatory anti-gay legislation, the ruling explicitly declares, “The claims are to be satisfied: to recognize the international LGBT movement as an extremist organization and to prohibit its activities in Russia,” according to state news agency RIA Novosti.
What does “movement” refer to?
The ministry refrained from providing further clarification on what it meant by the term “movement.”
In response to the ruling on Thursday, the UN expressed deep concern and stated that it could expose “members, employees and people engaging with such organisations” at risk of criminal charges and imprisonment.
According to the UN Human Rights Chief, under Russian law, an organization labeled as extremist faces immediate dissolution, and its leaders can be charged with up to 10 years in prison. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, emphasized that this decision puts human rights defenders and those advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ community at the risk of being labeled as “extremist,” a term carrying severe social and criminal consequences in Russia.
While homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, the country continues to grapple with widespread homophobia and discrimination.
Source: CNN