LGBT global news 24-7

Home » Content about Human rights in Russia

Content about Human rights in Russia

September 14, 2012
Russia’s top court backs gay events ban

Russian state media hailed the country’s Supreme Court ruling as a blow to discrimination of LGBT people, yet its decision actually strengthens gay events ban

The Supreme Court of Russia has ruled that some LGBT events are not classified as ‘homosexual propaganda’.

The Supreme Court’s ruling, passed this Thursday (13 September), concerned the recent legal ban on ‘gay propaganda’ to minors issued by legislature in North Russia’s Arkhangelsk Region.

Nikolai Alexeyev, an LGBT rights advocate contested the ruling in both the lower courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

July 21, 2012
73 people prosecuted in St Petersburg in first four months under 'gay propaganda' ban

St Petersburg Police have revealed that 73 people have been prosecuted for 'homosexual propaganda' since the city introduced its ban, just days after eight were arrested trying to hold a gay pride march in the city

73 people have been prosecuted for violating St Petersburg’s so called ‘homosexual propaganda’ ban in the first four months that the legislation has been in place, St Petersburg police revealed on Friday.

‘73 people have been prosecuted for homosexual propaganda and one person for paedophile propaganda,’ St Petersburg Police Chief Sergei Umnov said on Friday in a statement released by St Petersburg Police.

July 9, 2012
Activists arrested in St Petersburg for defying gay pride ban

Eight campaigners are still in police detention after holding pickets for LGBT rights in Russian city

Eight activists were arrested in St Petersburg on ‘homosexual propaganda’ charges after holding a protest in defiance of the city’s gay pride ban.

Organizers of St Petersburg’s third pride parade ignored authorities’ decision to forbid a rally for the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community on Saturday (7 July), holding two pickets.

However, police broke up the protests, arresting three in a park to the north of the city and later five more outside the City Hall, where they unfurled a rainbow flag.

July 6, 2012
Amnesty urges St Petersburg to lift gay pride ban

Amnesty International says 'moment of truth' has come for Russian city to show world they respect human rights

Amnesty International has called on St Petersburg to overturn its gay pride ban and show the world it respects human rights.

Tomorrow’s (7 July) peaceful march by the Russian city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community was cancelled by authorities, despite initially authorizing the event on Tuesday (3 July).

Sergei Nikitin, director of the Moscow office of Amnesty International, condemned City Hall’s decision.

June 27, 2012
St Petersburg gay pride will happen 'legally or not'

Activists have applied to hold pride parade in Russian city despite anti-gay laws and past rejections

Activists have vowed to hold a gay pride parade in St Petersburg despite the Russian city's law banning 'homosexual propaganda'.

Yesterday (26 June), LGBT group Ravnopravie (Equality) applied to city authorities to hold the third annual pride event in St Petersburg on 7 July.

Organizers expect 1,000 people to march for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, with possible routes including passing well known landmarks such as the monument to Peter the Great and the Palace Square near the Winter Palace.

February 29, 2012
St Petersburg votes for gay hate law

Local Russian politicians ignore massive European, US and global pressure to press ahead with gay gag law

St Petersburg politicians have today (29 February) voted in favor of a new law which makes people criminals if they discuss homosexuality in public.

The law prohibiting public discussion of LGBT issues is similar to rules already introduced in the country's Ryazan, Arkhangelsk and Kostroma regions.

Currently, the bill has fines of up to 1 million roubles ($34,400 €25,000) for organisations and up to 5,000 roubles (€172 €125) for individuals.

January 13, 2012
Russian gay activists due in court after picketing children's library

Three activists arrested for solitary protests are due in court next week.

Three Russian gay activists are due to appear in court next Friday after being arrested in Siberia's Arkangelsk city on Wednesday.

Nikolay Alekseev, Alexey Kiselev and Kirill Nepomnyaschiy were arrested when they mounted individual pickets in defiance of the 'Propaganda of Homosexuality to Minors' law passed last month by the regional parliament.