The Supreme Court of Russia held a “secret” and closed-door session this Thursday in which, without providing any defense, it declared the “international LGTB social movement” “extremist.” Activists and human rights organizations fear that the measure could lead to the future ban of Russian associations, loss of freedoms and persecution of homosexuals in Russia.
The Court thus ruled on an administrative lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Justice on November 17. To present the case, a representative of the plaintiff department appeared for the accusatory party. There was no one at the defense table, since “no one has appeared,” the Supreme Court previously told the state agency Ría Nóvosti. In Russia there is no organization with that name.
The ministry’s press service earlier said that in the activities of the LGBT movement operating in Russia, in accordance with the federal law “on combating extremist activities”, “various signs and manifestations of extremist orientation appeared, including incitement to social and religious discord”. He did not, however, cite any examples that supported this argument.
It took the judges a single five-hour session to make their decision. The process was declared “secret” and was therefore held behind closed doors. Journalists were only allowed access to hear the verdict.
The fear of a repression against the LGBT community in Russia is based on previous examples. More than a hundred groups have been banned in Russia for being considered “extremist.” These range from religious movements such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses to organizations linked to the imprisoned political opponent Alexei Navalny. After the ban, there were arrests of those who wanted to maintain their activity.
With the declaration of “extremist”, in fact any type of activism or demand in favor of homosexual rights is prohibited and, of course, the existence of associations linked to the LGTB community.
The Supreme Court assured that its decision has “immediate” effect. Propaganda, advertising, generating interest and encouraging people to join the ranks of the LGBT movement are now prohibited.
The human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) said that the verdict of the Russian Supreme Court is “shameful and absurd.”
In a statement, Marie Struthers, AI director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, says: “There is a risk of a complete ban on LGBTI organisations, which would lead to far-reaching violations of the rights to freedom of expression. association, expression and peaceful assembly, as well as the right to non-discrimination”.
According to Struthers, “this will affect numerous people and the consequences could be catastrophic.” “There is no doubt that this will lead to the persecution of LGBTI activists, rendering decades of their brave and dedicated work worthless, while threatening to instigate and legitimize a whole new level of violence against LGBTI people across Russia,” he added. .
AI called on Moscow to reverse this decision and called on the international community to “stand in solidarity with the homosexual community in Russia” to defend the principles of equality, freedom and justice for all.
The Russian authorities have presented themselves in recent decades as a bulwark of traditional values ??and Russian President Vladimir Putin regularly criticizes the West for its tolerance towards LGBT people.
Last year, Russia banned propaganda “of non-traditional relationships (read LGBT), pedophilia and sex change” among the entire population. This restrictive measure toughened a previous law, from 2013, in which this type of propaganda aimed only at those under 18 years of age was prohibited.
