Russia includes 'LGBT movement' in extremist and terrorist organisations list

Russia has added what it calls the international LGBT movement to thelist of extremist and terrorist organisations, the state media stated on Friday (March 22).

The move was in line with a ruling by Russia's Supreme Court last November that said LGBT activists should be designated as extremists. Advocates for the LGBT community had expressed concern that this decision might result in arrests and legal action against them.

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The list is maintained by an agency called Rosfinmonitoring that has powers to freeze the bank accounts of the more than 14,000 people and entities designated as extremists and terrorists. They range from Al Qaeda to U.S. tech giant Meta and associates of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The new listing refers to the international LGBT social movement and its structural units, state news agency RIA said.

As part of a shift under President Vladimir Putin towards what he portrays as family values that contrast with decadent Western attitudes, Russia has tightened restrictions over the past decade on expressions of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Among other steps, it has passed laws outlawing the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations and banned legal or medical changes of gender.

Earlier on Thursday,Russia gave orders to place two bar workers in police custody after they were accused of playing important roles in an “extremist organisation” under the country's legislation which criminalises the LGBTQ+ community.

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This is the first time such a criminal case has been filed in Russia since the “international LGBT movement” was banned in November.

As per the court, the two bar workers will stay in police custody till May 18 and can face an imprisonment of upto 10 years, if convicted, as per the court.

Earlier, the two suspects were accused by the tribunal of “promoting non-traditional sexual relations among the visitors of the bar”.

In March, the bar was raided by law enforcement and the videos showing the humiliating detentions of some visitors of the bar were shared online.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in December 2022 expanded the 2013 law and criminalised any positive mention of LGBTQ+ people or relationships in the public.

The medical intervention and administrative procedures which helped people change gender were banned in Russia in July last year.

(With inputs from agencies)