Bar managers imprisoned in Russia for LGBT+ “extremism”, a first

This is a first for this reason in Russia. The managers of a barOrenburg, a town in the Urals, were placed in pre-trial detention for “extremism” LGBT+, Wednesday March 20, and risk up to ten years in prison.

“This is the first such criminal case in Russia after the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss [sous l’étiquette] extremist the LGBT movement”, welcomed Ekaterina Mizoulina, an activist defending “traditional values” advocated by Vladimir Putin.

The Russian president, who has just been reappointed at the head of his country for six years, has long promoted “family” and religion facing a West described as “decadent”, even “Satanist”. And since the large-scale attack against Ukraine, launched at the end of February 2022, the Russian authorities have also increasingly repressed sexual minorities.

Several Russians have been fined in recent weeks for, for example, posting photos featuring rainbow flags online or, in the case of two women, for posting a video of their kiss.

Increase in police raids

In November 2023, in this context, the Russian Supreme Court banned the “international LGBT movement” for “extremism”, a vague wording but opening the door to heavy prison sentences.

Police raids and intimidation in bars and clubs open to LGBT+ have subsequently increased in Russia in recent weeks following this decision by the Supreme Court.