"One thing is clear: no amount of bans, arrests or prosecutions will erase the existence of LGBTI people in Russia, or anywhere else...Love and knowledge will always endure over hatred and repression."
Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia Director

The LGBTQQIA+ community is under threat in Russia. On November 30, 2023, the Supreme Court of Russia banned “the international public LGBT movement” as “extremist”. This has effectively outlawed any public advocacy or association with the LGBTQQIA+ community. Russia must urgently review this ruling to prevent widespread persecution of LGBTQQIA+ people.

The Supreme Court’s ruling recognizes as “extremist” an undefined “international public LGBT movement.” The ruling enables the persecution of those involved in LGBTQQIA+ rights-related activities or anyone with a known, or assumed, association with the LGBTQQIA+ community under anti-extremism legislation.

People found guilty of committing “extremist” activities may face up to 10 years in prison, employment restrictions and restrictions on other rights. Even displaying a Pride flag or other LGBTQQIA+ symbols can lead to an arrest and detention for up to 15 days, or 4 years for a repeated violation.

Since the ban came into force in January 2024, Russian authorities have launched at least 12 criminal cases, conducted raids on LGBTQQIA+ venues, issued administrative fines and short-term detentions for displaying rainbow-themed symbols and forced the closure of LGBTQQIA+ advocacy groups.

We must show solidarity with the Russian LGBTQQIA+ community and demand an end to these oppressive actions to safeguard the principles of equality, freedom and justice for all. No-one should be persecuted for who they love.

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RECENT ARRESTS TARGET BOOK PUBLISHERS

On May 14, 2025, Russian security forces detained at least 10 individuals in Moscow as part of a criminal investigation into alleged “involvement in the activities of an extremist organization,” “participation in the activities” of such an organization, and “organizing its work using official position” (Article 282.2(1.1), (2), (3) of the Criminal Code) for publishing LGBTI-themed books. At least 10 individuals were taken in for questioning, including Anatoly Norovyatkin, distribution director at EKSMO, as well as Popcorn Books co-founder Dmitry Protopopov and former sales director Pavel Ivanov. On 15 May, three people were formally charged, their names are not yet disclosed. If convicted under these charges, they could face prison sentences of up to 12 years.

According to the lawyer, the case is based on the alleged distribution of over 900 copies of ten LGBTI-themed titles, none of which have been officially banned or labelled “extremist.” Among the books named in the case is The Summer in a Pioneer Tie (translated in English as Pioneer Summer), a bestselling novel by Elena Malisova and Katerina Silvanova depicting a same-sex romance between two Soviet teenagers. The authors were arbitrarily designated “foreign agents” by the Ministry of Justice in February 2024. Other titles include Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper, Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, and Becky Albertalli’s Leah on the Offbeat and Love, Creekwood – all published by Popcorn Books between 2019 and 2022.