Russia –
In Moscow, police offensive against LGBT places
The Kremlin has hardened its conservative rhetoric since the start of the war against Ukraine, making the conflict a battle against the West and its values.
Published today at 12:00 p.m.
The Kremlin has hardened its conservative rhetoric since the start of the war against Ukraine.
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Moscow police raided several party venues on Saturday and arrested the director of a travel agency catering to gay male customers, under laws criminalizing “LGBT propaganda,” Russian state media reported.
The police raids came a year to the day after Russia’s Supreme Court banned the “international LGBT movement”, paving the way for arrests and prosecutions of the country’s already repressed LGBT+ community.
Bars and nightclubs raided
Russian security forces raided at least three bars and nightclubs overnight “as part of measures to combat LGBT propaganda,” the official Tass news agency reported.
Videos circulating on social media show people sitting on the dance floor of a nightclub, while riot police walk around shouting orders.
In another video, people are seen leaving the popular gay club Mono in central Moscow with their hands above their heads, with a police van parked outside. Police also raided a nightclub suspected of “propagating the ideology of the banned LGBT movement,” in the words of the Interior Ministry.
The 48-year-old director of the travel agency Men Travel was also arrested on suspicion of “preparing a New Year’s trip to Egypt for supporters of non-traditional sexual values”, according to the agency. press release Tass, citing the police.
Human rights groups say the country is waging an unprecedented crackdown on LGBT+ people, with many owners of LGBT+ party venues arrested and anyone associated with promoting LGBT+ rights prosecuted.
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AFP/Andrea Di Guardo
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