Key Points
- Two bar workers are in Russia have been accused of organising an "extremist organisation" after a police raid.
- The United Nations' human rights chief has raised concerns about the future of LGBTIQ+ groups in Russia.
- Russia's crackdown on LGBTIQ+ freedoms could lead to an exodus of people from Russia.
Russia's crackdown on LGBTIQ+ people has accelerated and two people have been arrested following a police raid.
The arrests are the latest after a Russian supreme court ruling in November that banned the LGBTIQ+ movement in Russia.
Here's everything you need to know:
What happened?
On Wednesday, a Russian court in the southwestern city of Orenburg ordered that two bar workers be placed in custody and accused them of organising an "extremist organisation" and, "promoting non-traditional sexual relations among the visitors of the bar".
Local media identified the employees as Diana Kamilyanova and Aleksandr Klimov, employees of Pose Bar. The bar was raided by police on 9 March after the police received 15 complaints during a drag show.
They will remain in custody until 18 May and face up to 10 years in prison.
It is the first criminal case of its kind since Russia banned the LGBTIQ+ movement in November, amid an accelerating crackdown on the community.
Police raided Pose Nightclub, in southwestern Russia, during a drag show. Credit: Credit: (@Worldprotest/Telegram)
What are Russia’s anti-LGBTIQ laws?
Homosexuality in Russia has been decriminalised in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1993. However, over the past decade, Russia has implemented several laws that limit the freedom of expression for LGBTIQ+ people, leaving many Russian members of that community fearful.
Much of Russia’s anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation has been focused on cracking down on what Russian authorities call, "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" in books, mass media, films, and the internet. However, in 2020 Russia changed its constitution to make same-sex marriage illegal.
In November, Russia’s supreme court ruled LGBTIQ+ activists should be designated as extremists and banned the international LGBTIQ+ social movement and the display of the rainbow flag.
Over the last ten years, the Russian government has introduced multiple laws which target LGBTIQ+ people.
Is there similar legislation in other countries?
There are currently 65 countries that criminalise sexuality. Russia has not banned consensual same-sex relations like other countries, including Uganda, Yemen and Brunei. However, a law that would ban, "non-traditional" sexual relations has been on the table for more than a decade.
In 2021, Hungary, passed laws similar to Russia, banning portrayal and the promotion of gender and sexual diversity.
What has been the response from the United Nations?
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk criticised the Russian court ruling, saying: "I call on the Russian authorities to repeal, immediately, laws that place improper restrictions on the work of human rights defenders or that discriminate against LGBT people.
"The law must uphold and defend the principles of equality and non-discrimination. The law must never be used to perpetuate inequality and discrimination."
What are the ramifications of the Russian court ruling?
Türk has also expressed his concern for the future of LGBTIQ+ groups in Russia.
Russia's anti-extremism legislation is broad and vague and has been used in the past to prosecute peaceful critics. Human Rights Watch is concerned that the anti-extremism legislation combined with the Russian court ruling could increase the risk of prosecution to LBTIQ+ activists and organisations.
Police raids on LGBTIQ+-friendly establishments, including bars, clubs and saunas, increased in Russia after the ruling. Two people were convicted in February on separate occasions for displaying LGBTIQ+ symbols. A man was fined and a woman sentenced to five days' administrative detention.
In Russia, anyone who is facing investigation or prosecution for being involved in "extremist activities" can have their bank accounts blocked and face employment restrictions of other rights, including being banned from standing in elections at all levels.
Could this lead to an exodus of Russians?
Since Russia's latest invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022, more than 800,000 Russians have fled Russia and HRW has urged countries around the world to provide safe haven to those who face prosecution or grave threats.
Moscow librarian Vladimir Kosarevskiy told SBS Russian that he has distanced himself from Russia’s LGBTIQ+ scene and is helping queer Russians find out information about seeking asylum.
"Your life can be destroyed at any moment, you can be detained, imprisoned, insulted, fined," Kosarevskiy said. “They can do anything to you because there are no legal mechanisms [for protection]."
HRW has also urged members of the European Union to grant long-term visas to LGBTIQ+ activists to grant long-term visas to allow them to travel in emergency situation and to provide support for LGBTIQ+ activists working in and outside of Russia.
- With additional reporting from AFP, Gavin Butler, Lera Shvets and Bermet Talant
