Russia's Supreme Court bans gay rights movement, declaring it 'extremist'

Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday formally declared the international LGBT movement an “extremist” organization, effectively banning activism for the cause, in the latest step in the country’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.

The country’s high court upheld a claim by the Ministry of Justice that the “international LGBT movement” was in violation of the country’s law against extremism by committing acts of “an extremist nature,” including “incitement of social and religious discord.”

The ruling was widely condemned by international human rights organizations.

United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned the ruling could expose those defending human rights and LGBTQ+ people to being labeled “extremist,” which could bring “serious social and criminal ramifications in Russia.”

His statement noted that organizations deemed “extremist” face immediate dissolution and its leaders could be imprisoned for years.

“No one should be jailed for doing human rights work or denied their human rights based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said in the statement.

Human Rights Watch slammed the decision in a statement. Tanya Lokshina, associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the move “apparently serves a dual purpose.”

“It is meant to increase the scapegoating of LGBT people to appeal to the Kremlin’s conservative supporters before the March 2024 presidential vote and to paralyze the work of rights groups countering discrimination and supporting LGBT people,” Lokshina said.

The hearing on Thursday was held behind closed doors and only Justice Ministry representatives were allowed in, the Associated press reported, adding that journalists were taken to the courtroom just for the reading of the verdict.

The ruling comes ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expected announcement that he will seek reelection in the March 2024 presidential elections. He has been in power for 24 years and has championed “Russian traditional values” in many public addresses.