Russian police raid Moscow gay bars after top court's ruling
Russian police raid Moscow gay bars after top court’s ruling
NEW DELHI: Hours after Russia’s top court banned what it called the “global LGBTQ+ movement”, the country’s security forces raided gay clubs and bars across the capital Moscow on Friday night.
Authorities conducted searches at various locations in the Russian capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a bar known for hosting LGBTQ+ events, ostensibly under the guise of a drug raid, reported local media.
Witnesses informed journalists that security services checked and photographed the identification documents of clubgoers.
The raids follow a decision by Russia’s Supreme Court to label the country’s LGBTQ+ movement as “an extremist organization”.
The decision, a response to a lawsuit initiated by the Justice Ministry, marks the most recent development in a ten-year-long campaign against LGBTQ+ rights under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin. Throughout his 24 years in power, Putin has consistently emphasized “traditional family values.”
Activists have pointed out that the lawsuit targeted a movement that lacks official status, and under its broad and ambiguous definition, authorities could potentially take action against any individuals or groups perceived to be associated with it.
The recent ruling has already led to the closure of several LGBTQ+ establishments, including St. Petersburg’s gay club Central Station. In a social media post on Friday, the venue announced that, due to the new law, the owner has decided to cease operations.
Max Olenichev, a human rights lawyer who works with the Russian LGBTQ+ community, told The Associated Press before the ruling that it effectively bans organized activity to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
“In practice, it could happen that the Russian authorities, with this court ruling in hand, will enforce (the ruling) against LGBTQ+ initiatives that work in Russia, considering them a part of this civic movement,” said Max Olenichev, a human rights lawyer who works with the Russian LGBTQ+ community.
Prior to the court’s decision, prominent Russian human rights organizations submitted a document to the Supreme Court, denouncing the Justice Ministry’s lawsuit as discriminatory and a breach of Russia’s constitution. Despite attempts by some LGBTQ+ activists to participate in the case, the court rejected their request.
In 2013, the Kremlin implemented the initial legislation curtailing LGBTQ+ rights, commonly referred to as the “gay propaganda” law. This law prohibited any public promotion of “nontraditional sexual relations” among minors.
In 2020, constitutional reforms, spearheaded by Putin to prolong his tenure by two additional terms, also introduced a provision to criminalize same-sex marriage.
(With AP inputs)
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