Top court bars LGBTQ activism

Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed LGBTQ activism on Thursday, the most drastic step against advocates of gay, lesbian and transgender rights in the increasingly conservative country.

Ruling in response to a lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry, the court labelled what the suit called the LGBTQ “movement” operating in Russia as an ex- tremist organization and banned it.

The ruling is the latest step in a decade-long crack- down on LGBTQ rights in Russia under President Vladimir Putin, who has emphasized “traditional fam- ily values” during his 24 years in power.

Thursday’s closed-door hearing lasted four hours. No one besides Justice Ministry representatives were al- lowed in, and there was no defendant. Journalists were taken into the courtroom only for the reading of the verdict by Judge Oleg Nefedov, who wore a mask, apparently for health reasons.

The case was classified, and the ministry didn’t dis- close any evidence, saying only that authorities had identified “signs and manifestations of an extremist nature” in the movement it seeks to ban, including “incitement of social and religious discord.”

Multiple rights activists have noted the lawsuit was lodged against a movement that is not an official entity, and that under its broad and vague definition, Russian authorities could crack down on any individuals or groups deemed to be part of it.

“In practice, it could happen that the Russian au- thorities, with this court ruling in hand, will enforce (the ruling) against LGBTQ initiatives that work in Russia, considering them a part of this civic move- ment,” said Max Olenichev, a human rights lawyer who works with the Russian LGBTQ community, contact- ed by The Associated Press before the ruling.

The lawsuit targets activists and effectively prohibits any organized activity to defend the rights of LGBTQ people, Olenichev added.

Multiple Russian independent media outlets and rights groups added rainbow symbols to their logos on social media in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

Amnesty International called the ruling “shameful and absurd,” warning it could lead to a blanket ban on LGBTQ organizations, violate freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly, and lead to dis- crimination.

“It will affect countless people, and its repercussions are poised to be nothing short of catastrophic,” said Marie Struthers, the group’s director for Eastern Eu- rope and Central Asia.