LGBT global news 24-7

Home » Content about Government of Russia

Content about Government of Russia

May 12, 2013
'Friends' murder and mutilate young Russian who came out as gay

The badly mutilated body of a young gay man has been found in the Russian city of Volgograd following Victory Day celebrations

A young gay Russian man has been brutally murdered by two friends in the Russian city of Volgograd after he reportedly came out to them while they were drinking together.

The unnamed 23-year-old was found dead in the courtyard of an apartment building in the city on Friday morning after Russians had been celebrating Victory Day which commemorates the capitulation of German forces in World War II.

April 27, 2013
Moscow threatens again to ban gay couples from adopting Russian children

Russian president Vladimir Putin has repeated plans to block Russian children from being adopted by same-sex couples in other countries

Vladimir Putin has reiterated plans to ban foreign gay couples from adopting Russian children.

On Friday (26 April), the Russian president again signalled that he would change adoption agreements with countries where gay marriage was legal.

Putin said: ‘We treat our partners with respect, but we ask that they treat with respect the cultural traditions, the ethic, legal and moral norms of Russia.'

His statement came as a response to a Russian politician who suggested changes to adoption agreements with France, since the country legalized gay marriage.

January 31, 2013
Russian journalist forced to quit over pro-gay comments

Anton Krasovsky, a founding member of Kontr Tv, leaves his post after speaking against the new law banning the 'propaganda of homosexuality'

A Russian journalist working at Kontr Tv has apparently been forced to leave his post after criticizing a proposed national law against gay 'propaganda'.

The proposed legislation has been debated in the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, with most legislators voting in favor of it. It still has to clear other hurdles before it becomes law. It would fine individuals, officials and organizations saying positive things about homosexuality 'to minors'. It's similar to laws already imposed in 10 Russian regions.

January 25, 2013
Russia to vote on gay gag as another region makes it law

Another million Russians banned from ‘promoting homosexuality’ as national anti-gay law comes back on agenda at the State Duma

Russia’s State Duma, or parliament, is set to debate and vote on a law against ‘gay propaganda’ at 5pm Moscow time today (25 January).

The debate comes as news breaks that Kaliningrad region, with a population of almost a million, passed a similar law yesterday (24 January).

It’s the 10th Russian region to pass the law which forbids ‘homosexual propaganda’ to minors which it links to pedophilia.

Similar legislation already exists in St Petersburg, Ryazan, Arkangelsk, Kostroma, Magadansk, Samar, Bashkortostan, Krasnodar and Novosibirsk.

January 25, 2013
Scuffles as Russian Duma votes for national gay gag law

State Duma backs fines for ‘promoting homosexuality’. But committee to review the bill has potential to remove anti-gay sting

Police have arrested at least 20 campaigners as Russia’s State Duma voted for a new law banning ‘homosexual propaganda’.

The proposed national law is similar to legislation already existing in nine Russian regions. Just yesterday Kaliningrad became the 10th region to introduce the ban, their bill just needs to be signed by the governor to become law.

January 22, 2013
Russia delays national gay gag law indefinitely

Russia State Duma again postpones debate on law to ban ‘gay propaganda’ to minors across the country

The Russian State Duma has postponed a nationwide ban on ‘gay propaganda’ indefinitely by returning the bill to the preparatory stage.

The legislation was originally due to be debated on 19 December last year but that was put off to today (22 January).

Since then, Russia has come under international pressure to drop the proposals.

January 22, 2013
Russia gay activists assaulted at kissing protest

Russian gay kissing against gay propaganda bill were assaulted Christian Orthodox activists

A ‘gay kissing day’ demonstration outside the Russian State Duma today ended in violence, as Christian Orthodox activists assaulted gay and lesbian protestors.

Gay and lesbians activists kissed today (22 January) in front of the Duma in protest of its plans to legalize a nationwide ban on so called ‘gay propaganda’.

December 19, 2012
Russian gay kiss activists pelted with eggs at Duma protest

Radicals push gays and pelt them with eggs as they kiss in protest at plans for a new law banning ‘homosexual propaganda’ in Russia

Gay activists were pushed to the floor and pelted with eggs as they staged a kiss-in protest near the Russian State Duma today against plans for an anti-gay law.

Police broke up the demonstration in sub-zero temperatures and arrested the peaceful kissing protestors.

They were campaigning against a bill which had been due to go to the Duma, the lower house of parliament today (19 December). It would ban people spreading ‘propaganda about homosexuality to minors’.

December 18, 2012
Russia delays debate on anti-gay propaganda law

Russia’s State Duma will not discuss law banning ‘promotion of homosexuality’ to children until next year

Russia’s State Duma has postponed the first reading of a bill designed to fine people who ‘promote homosexuality’ to children.

The Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, was due to debate the law tomorrow (19 December). But it will now not be discussed until 22 January according to Russian International News Agency, RIA Novosti.

September 16, 2012
Russian gay activists join thousands to protest Putin

Opposing an 'illegitimate government', gay activists met with other liberals to protest against President Vladmir Putin

Russian gay activists joined thousands of people to protest President Vladimir Putin yesterday (15 September).

Despite Kremlin efforts to muzzle the voices of the opposition, the major protest in Moscow showed the activists’ resilience.

Gay activists met with other liberals on the capital’s boulevards, chanting ‘Russia without Putin’, and ‘We are the power here!’

The protestors remained peaceful as about 7000 police officers stood guard along the route of the march, while a police helicopter hovered overhead.

September 7, 2012
Russian lesbian editor fired for snubbing Putin, she says

LGBT rights advocate Masha Gessen says she was fired from editorship of Russia’s oldest magazine for refusing to send a reporter to cover a Putin publicity stunt

Russian writer and LGBT rights advocate Masha Gessen was fired from a prestigious magazine role for not covering a expedition attended by President Putin, she said on Twitter this week.

Since February, Gessen was editor-in-chief of Russia’s oldest magazine, travel monthly Vokrug Sveta (Around the World) until her contract was terminated this week.

August 22, 2012
Bad Vlad: Put pressure on Putin over gay hate

An appearance at the UN is a chance for the world to show it is against Vladimir Putin’s anti-LGBT abuses, says international rights campaigner Omar Kuddus

Russian leader Vladimir Putin is on a rampage against human rights.

On 17 August the world heard that Putin's courts formally banned pride marches for 100 years in Moscow.

August 19, 2012
Madonna urges other artists to speak out on Pussy Riot conviction

Queen of Pop has condemned Pussy Riot's conviction, calling the sentence too harsh and inhumane

Madonna has spoken out against Pussy Riot’s conviction after their pro-gay, anti-Putin protest in a Moscow cathedral.

The three members of the band, Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were sentenced to two years in prison for ‘hooliganism’.

The pop star released a statement yesterday (18 August) condemning the Russian punk band’s conviction, and urged other artists to speak out for the band.

August 17, 2012
Russian pro-gay punk band Pussy Riot found guilty of 'hooliganism'

Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova found guilty of 'hooliganism on the grounds of religious hatred' for singing a protest song in Moscow’s central Orthodox cathedral

Three members of Russian female punk band Pussy Riot have been found guilty of 'religious hooliganism' for staging an anti-Putin protest which spoke out for gay rights.

Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were accused of 'hooliganism on the grounds of religious hatred' for singing a protest song in Moscow’s central Orthodox cathedral.

August 3, 2012
Putin urges leniency over pro-gay punk group Pussy Riot

Madonna, Sting, and Jarvis Cocker are among the celebrities urging Russian president to release the three women

Russian president Vladimir Putin says Russian punk trio Pussy Riot should not face tough sentencing for their pro-gay protest in Moscow.

The female musicians are on trial over hooliganism charges after a video of their anti-Putin song appeared online.

Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were accused on the grounds of ‘religious hatred' for singing a protest song in Moscow’s main Orthodox church.

July 30, 2012
Pussy Riot trial over pro-gay Putin protest begins

Human rights campaigners denounce trial of Russian female punk band as 'politically motivated'

Three members of Russian female punk band Pussy Riot pleaded not guilty to 'religious hooliganism' as the trial into an anti-Putin protest which spoke out for gay rights began.

Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were accused of 'hooliganism on the grounds of religious hatred' for singing a protest song in Moscow’s main Orthodox church.

July 23, 2012
Punk group Pussy Riot due in court over pro-gay Putin protest

Human rights campaigners call for Russian female punk band members to be released after four months in detention

Russian female punk band Pussy Riot are due to appear in court today (23 July) over an anti-Putin protest which spoke out for gay rights.

Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are accused of 'hooliganism on the grounds of religious hatred' after singing a protest song in Moscow’s main Orthodox church.

April 23, 2012
Man cleared of gay propaganda charge in Russia

Judge cites lack of evidence in charges against straight attorney Sergey Kondrashov

Sergey Kondrashov is a straight attorney who was arrested for holding up a gay rights banner in Saint Petersburg, Russia, two weeks ago.

He was charged with the promotion and propaganda of homosexuality under a new law that officially prevents the ‘propaganda of homosexuality to minors.’ Kondrashov was also charged with disobeying a police officer.

On Monday (23 April), he was found guilty only of the latter charge with the judge in the case citing a lack of evidence, and protocols.