Russia requested a ban on the “International LGBTQ public movement” on Friday (Nov. 17), without specifying if they are seeking the closure of diverse communities in general or specific groups in the country.
“The Russian justice ministry has lodged an administrative legal claim with the Supreme Court to recognize the International LGBTQ public movement as extremist and ban its activity in Russia,” Moscow said in a statement, which further stated that a court hearing will be held on the matter on November 30.
Russia’s repression of the LGBTQ community
This is Russia’s latest measure in its continuous crackdown on the LGBTQ community and its members, whom officials refer to as having “non-traditional” gender identities and sexual orientation.
Many human rights organizations and opposition groups in Russia have been labeled as extremists, increasing the likelihood of prosecution for their members.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has accused the “LGBT movement operating on the territory of the Russian Federation” with respect to “various signs and manifestations of extremism, including incitement to social and religious hatred.”
The ministry did not elaborate on what it meant by that movement but did state that a court hearing on the topic will be place on November 30.
Russia has intensified its campaign against LGBTQ groups since it commenced its offensive in Ukraine.
“Russian authorities are once again forgetting that the LGBT+ community are human beings,” stated Dilya Gafurova, the head of the LGBTQ rights group Sphere.
Authorities “don’t just want to erase us from the public field; they want to ban us as a social group,” added Gafurova.