War Repression LGBTQ Russia

A Community Under Pressure

In Russia, repression against the LGBTQ community is escalating as the government promotes so-called “traditional values.” This crackdown is forcing many individuals into exile, including Mikhail* (a pseudonym), a young gay man from Ufa. Passionate about drag, he was building a thriving career before the environment became increasingly hostile.

“I was going on tour, participating in competitions, meeting new artists. I thought drag was going to be my future,” he told Al Jazeera.

A Gradual but Radical Shift

At first, Mikhail did not notice overt hostility in his daily life, but things began to deteriorate in recent years.

“There were concerns in the club industry,” he explained. “Restrictions were placed on the number of Ukrainian performers, and discussing LGBTQ-related topics became forbidden. In everyday life, the anxiety was constant.”

Everything changed when the venue where he worked was raided by the police.

“I had experienced raids before, but the last one was the most brutal,” he recounted. “After two interrogations lasting eight to nine hours, under constant psychological pressure, I had to leave the country to protect my freedom.”

A Crackdown on “Internal Enemies”

As Russia wages war in Ukraine, it is simultaneously intensifying repression against those it perceives as internal threats, particularly the LGBTQ community. A coordinator from the organization Sphere, which monitors LGBTQ rights violations in Russia, noted that before 2022, these abuses mainly involved institutional and everyday discrimination.

Since the expansion of the “gay propaganda” ban in 2022 and the criminalization of gender transition in 2023, approximately two-thirds of recorded violence now directly involves authorities.

From Decriminalization to Persecution

The history of homosexuality in Russia is marked by brutal shifts. Decriminalized in 1917 under the USSR, it was re-criminalized in 1934 under Stalin, subjecting LGBTQ people to prison sentences. Later, they were deemed mentally ill and forcibly institutionalized.

It was only after the fall of communism in 1993 that this prohibition was lifted again. However, by the 2010s, a new wave of repression emerged, with laws restricting LGBTQ rights under the guise of child protection.

Systematic Repression

The Russian government now equates LGBTQ rights with foreign influence aimed at undermining traditional Russian values.

“Russian authorities do not differentiate between pedophilia and ‘non-traditional’ orientations,” said Noel Shaida, communications director at Sphere.

In 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court declared the “international LGBT movement” an “extremist organization”—despite the fact that no such formal entity exists. This vague definition enables widespread persecution.

“Any organization supporting LGBTQ people risks being accused of extremist activities, which can lead to unjust criminal charges and harsh prison sentences,” the Sphere coordinator explained.

Raids, Intimidation, and Surveillance

Since November 2023, at least 43 raids targeting LGBTQ-friendly establishments have been documented. Some business owners are prosecuted for “organizing extremist activities,” while others face fines for “propaganda.”

“In several cases, patrons were forced to strip and lie on the cold floor for hours,” Sphere reported.

Law enforcement also employs coercion, including torture.

“In one establishment, individuals were forced to squat until a friend gave the police his phone password,” a witness revealed.

Police have also made arrests at LGBTQ events or through dating apps, accusing individuals of illegal propaganda or drug possession.

A Database to Track LGBTQ Individuals

According to independent news outlet Meduza, now in exile in Latvia, Russian authorities are compiling a database of LGBTQ individuals using information gathered from raids and medical records of transgender people.

“These records could be used to build a massive criminal case against the so-called ‘international LGBT organization’ or to intimidate and recruit informants,” said Irina, an advocacy director at Sphere.

A Forced Exodus

Facing increasing pressure, many LGBTQ individuals are seeking to flee Russia. Anastasia Burakova, a human rights lawyer and founder of Kovcheg (The Ark), confirmed this growing trend:

“We have set up emergency temporary shelters in countries like Serbia and Turkey. More and more LGBTQ individuals are reaching out to us because they are in danger.”

Between Resistance and Despair

Despite everything, some activists remain hopeful.

“We believe in a future where the LGBTQ+ community can live without discrimination,” said Noel Shaida. “Political regimes are not eternal, and state bans cannot erase us.”

Mikhail, however, is more pessimistic.

“People will conform to the norms imposed by the state at the expense of their identity,” he said bitterly. “Unfortunately, I think the suicide rate will increase.”

Source: Al Jazeera