A hearing by Russia’s Supreme Court on whether to designate the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist organization was closed to the public, including those representing the defendant, the Russian independent media outlet Mediazona reported on Nov. 30.
A Mediazona correspondent said that only representatives of Russia’s Justice Ministry were allowed in the courtroom, although journalists will be able to view the proceedings when the judge announces the decision.
The ministry announced a motion on Nov. 19 to brand the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist organization and ban its activities.
The ministry accused the movement of causing “social and religious discord.”
The hearing ended and Russia’s Supreme Court designated the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist organization and banned its activities within the country.
Russia has previously banned groups of people, ideologies, or ideas without strictly defined structure or membership. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in 2018 banning so-called “Columbine communities” that allegedly promote school shootings.
The Kremlin’s crackdown on gay rights intensified following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022. The government passed legislation banning the public expression of LGBT identity in Russia on Dec. 5, 2022.
The law criminalized what it calls “propaganda” related to “nontraditional sexual relations” in media.
The Russian State Duma targeted the transgender community the following year, banning gender-affirming care in July 2023.
Putin has rhetorically linked his anti-gay and anti-trans policies to the invasion of Ukraine. He included remarks against the LGBT community in a ceremony held on Sept. 30, 2022, to formally announce the illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts.
“Do we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed in our schools from the primary grades?” Putin said in his address.
So basically this means that Putin will eradicate the LGBT movement in Russia with his latest move!
