Russia: Move to label LGBT movement extremist opens floodgates to persecution

If enacted any LGBTI person in Russia would be at the mercy of arbitrary measures from the authorities

Supreme Court will make its decision behind closed-doors

‘This is a deeply cynical move aimed at dehumanising and persecuting the entire LGBTI community’ - Marie Struthers

Reacting to news that Russia’s Ministry of Justice has initiated proceedings to legally recognise the ‘international public LGBT movement’ as extremist and ban its activities in the country, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: 

“This is a deeply cynical move aimed at dehumanising and persecuting the entire LGBTI community. Sadly, in Russia’s prevailing climate of rampant state-promoted homophobia, it does not come as a surprise. 

“If enacted, this would leave any LGBTI person in Russia at the mercy of arbitrary measures from the authorities.

"It would make any step in defence of LGBTI rights a crime. Individuals could be thrown in jail on baseless charges of extremism if the Government simply deems them to be part of a so-called ‘international public LGBT movement’. Even symbols such as the rainbow flag could be proscribed for being extremist. 

“A life in silence and in fear of humiliation and imprisonment – this is the price that the Government wants to impose on countless LGBTI people in Russia.

“This disgraceful move by the Ministry of Justice must be withdrawn immediately and all homophobic laws passed in the last decade must be repealed, and those affected by them must receive fair compensation.” 

Behind closed doors 

The Ministry of Justice’s petition is scheduled to be heard on 30 November in the Supreme Court in closed-door proceedings.