A Russian court on Monday designated the country’s leading LGBTQ rights group as “extremist”, outlawing the organisation. The designation exposes its supporters to possible prosecution.
The ruling by a court in Saint Petersburg followed a case brought by the justice ministry against the Russian LGBT Network, a prominent rights nonprofit.
“The public movement has been designated as an extremist organisation, and its activities are banned in Russia,” the court’s press service said on Telegram, adding the hearing was held behind closed doors.
The designation means individuals associated with the group could face extended prison sentences under laws used for extremism-related offences. Russia has targeted LGBTQ organisations, a trend that has intensified since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, accelerating a broader conservative shift.
In 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court banned what it described as the “international social LGBT movement” as an extremist organisation. Rights group Amnesty International criticised the move earlier this year, saying it reflected a strategy to suppress dissent and equality.
President Vladimir Putin has long said LGBTQ rights was contrary to what he calls Russia’s “traditional family values”. Authorities have also in recent years raided LGBTQ venues and penalised individuals for displaying symbols such as the rainbow flag.
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