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Agence France-Presse

A Russian court on Wednesday ordered the arrest of a bar administrator and its art director, accusing them of organising an “extremist organisation” under new legislation criminalising the LGBTQ community.
It is the first criminal case of its kind launched since Russia banned the so-called “international LGBT movement” in November, amid an accelerating crackdown on the community.
“The court chose a preventive measure for the art director and administrator of the ‘Pose’ bar,” the Orenburg tribunal said.
They will remain in custody until May 18 and face up to 10 years in prison, according to the court in southwestern Russia.


The tribunal earlier accused the two suspects of “promoting non-traditional sexual relations among the visitors of the bar”.
Law enforcement had raided the bar in early March, and videos of humiliating detentions of some of the club visitors circulated online.
“The accused, people of non-traditional sexual orientation, acted in premeditation with a group of people … who also support the views and activities of the international public association LGBT,” the court said on Telegram.
Russia has only put out a vague description of what it calls the “international LGBT movement”, paving the way for the prosecution of anyone protecting LGBTQ rights or simply identifying with the community.
Russian drag queens ‘ready for the worst’ as LGBTQ law looms
The director of the “League of the Safe Internet” and figurehead of the ultra-traditional faction pushing for repressive laws, Ekaterina Mizulina, hailed the criminal proceedings on Monday.
“This is the first criminal case in Russia after the decision of the Supreme Court to recognise LGBT as an extremist movement,” Mizulina said.
There have been several administrative proceedings under the new ruling, resulting in fines and short detentions.
The Kremlin has further ramped up conservative rhetoric since launching its military assault on Ukraine, casting the conflict as a battle against the West and its liberal values.


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Russia

Russia arrests two in first LGBTQ ‘extremism’ criminal case

Activists hold their flag at a rally to collect signatures to cancel the results of voting on amendments to the Constitution in Pushkin Square in Moscow, in 2020. A Russian court on Wednesday ordered the arrest of a bar administrator and its art director, accusing them of organising an “extremist organisation” under new legislation criminalising the LGBTQ community. Photo: AP

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Activists carry rainbow flags in St Petersburg, Russia in 2013. Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed LGBTQ activism in November. Photo: AP

An activist stands with a rainbow flag in front of journalists during a protest in St Petersburg, Russia. Photo: AP 

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The party was hosted at a Moscow nightclub by Russian influencer Anastasia Ivleeva. Photo: Instagram/agentgirl

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Russian transgender woman Elle Solomina. Photo: Reuters

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Anastasia Domini, left, and her wife Anna swing their daughter Una as they walk to a park in Buenos Aires. The couple are among many Russians who have left their homeland to escape discrimination and settled in Argentina, where same-sex marriage is legal. Photo: AP

Russian nationals Anna Domini, left, and her wife Anastasia, prepare breakfast for their children, in their home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: AP

Mark Boyarsky, a 38-year-old trans man, left Moscow with his wife and two children soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AP

Newlyweds Nadezhda Skvortosova, left, and Tatiana Skvortosova are among a growing number of same-sex Russian couples moving to Argentina to get married. Photo AP

Russian nationals Dmitri Yarin, left, and his partner Nikolai Shushpan live an openly gay life in Argentina. Photo: AP

News

World

Russia & Central Asia

The bar administrator and its art director, arrested for ‘promoting non-traditional sexual relations’, face up to 10 years in prison
It is the first criminal case of its kind since Russia banned the so-called ‘international LGBT movement’ in November, amid a crackdown on the community


It is the first criminal case of its kind since Russia banned the so-called ‘international LGBT movement’ in November, amid a crackdown on the community.
