48 hours after Russia banned the 'LGBTQ+ movement' as an extremist organization, police raid gay bars and clubs

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - On November 29th, the top court in Russia banned what it calls the "global LGBTQ+ movement" as an extremist organization and on Friday, December 1st, Russian police officers raided gay bars and clubs across Moscow.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that a local media outlet in Russia said that police searched venues across the capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a bar that hosted LGBTQ+ parties.

Eyewitnesses told local journalists that clubgoers' documents were "checked and photographed" by the security services. They also said that managers had been able to warn patrons prior to the police arriving at the establishments. The multiple raids follow a recent decision by Russia's Supreme Court to label the country's LGBTQ+ "movement" as an "extremist organization." 

The recent ruling, which was made in response to a lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry, is the latest step in a decade long "crackdown" on LGBTQ+ rights within the country of Russia. President Vladimir Putin has continuously emphasized the "traditional family values" during his last 24 years in power.

LGBTQ+ activists noted that the lawsuit was lodged against a movement that is not an official entity and that under this broad and vague definition, authorities can technically crackdown on any individual or groups deemed to be a part of it. Following the decision from the top court, several LGBTQ+ venues have already shut their doors.

One such venue, St. Petersburg's gay club Central Station, wrote on its social media that the owner would no longer allow the bar to operate with the new law in effect. 

Max Olenichev, a human rights lawyer who works with the Russian LGBTQ+ community, said that the law effectively bans organized activity to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ people. He said, "In practice, it could happen that the Russian authorities, with this court ruling in hand, will enforce (the ruling) against LGBTQ+ initiatives that work in Russia, considering them a part of this civic movement."

Before the ruling, several high profile Russian human rights groups had filed a document with the Supreme Court that called the Justice Ministry lawsuit discriminatory and a violation of Russia's constitution. Some LGBTQ+ activists tried to become a party in the case, but were rebuffed by the court.

Reportedly, back in 2013, the Kremlin adopted the first legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights, known as the "gay propaganda" law, which banned any public endorsement of "nontraditional sexual relations" among minors. 

In 2020, constitutional reforms pushed through by Putin to extend his rule by two more terms also included a provision to outlaw same-sex marriage.

In 2022, after sending some of their troops into Ukraine, the Kremlin started up a campaign against what it called the West's "degrading" influence. Human rights advocates saw it as an attempt to legitimize the way. Also, in 2022, a law passed that banned the propaganda of "nontraditional sexual relations" among adults, also effectively outlawing any public endorsement of LGBTQ+ people.

In 2023, a law that prohibits gender transitioning procedures and gender-affirming care for transgender people passed in Russia. This legislation prohibited any "medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person," as well as changing "one's gender in official documents and public records."

In response to accusations of LGBTQ+ discrimination, Russian authorities stated that the rights of LGTBQ+ people are protected. Earlier in November, Russian media quoted Deputy Justice Minister Andrei Loginov as saying that "the rights of LGBT people in Russia are protected legally." 

At the time of the statement, he was presenting a report on human rights in Russia to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, arguing that "restraining public demonstration of nontraditional sexual relationships or preferences is not a form of censure for them."

Within days of the Supreme Court's ruling, it still remains unclear how LGBTQ+ activists and symbols will be restricted. Olga Baranova, director of the Moscow Community Center for LGBTQ+ Initiatives said that many people will consider leaving Russia before they become targeted by Russian authorities.

She said, "It is clear for us that they're once again making us out as a domestic enemy to shift the focus from all the other problems that are in abundance in Russia." 

During the gay bar and club raids on Friday night, one attendee told Telegram channel that he feared he would be given a lengthy jail term. The attendee, Ostorozhno Novosti, said that the police stated they were searching for drugs. One eyewitness said, "In the middle of the party, the music was stopped and [police] began going into the lounges."

In 2022, references to LGBTQ+ people were deleted from books, films, advertisements and TV shows. Earlier in the month of November, one Russian TV channel discolored a rainbow in a South Korean pop video in order to avoid being accused of violating the "gay propaganda" law.