Reports from local media reveal that police in Moscow conducted raids on several gay clubs just a day after Russia’s Supreme Court declared the “LGBT movement” an extremist organization and banned its activities nationwide
During the late-night raids on Friday, club-goers were briefly detained, and their passports were reportedly photographed.
An attendee expressed concern over potential lengthy jail terms. The police claimed the raids were conducted in search of drugs, with no official comments from city officials as of now.
VIDEO: RUSSIA BANS LGBT MOVEMENT
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The Supreme Court’s ruling, initiated by the justice ministry, raised eyebrows as there is no legal entity known as the “LGBT public movement.”
The constitutional change in 2020 explicitly defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, effectively disregarding same-sex unions in Russia.
The LGBT community in the country has faced escalating pressure from authorities in recent years.
Notably, in 2013, a law was enacted, prohibiting the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” targeted at minors.
