Russia's Supreme Court bans 'international LGBTQ+ public movement' as extremist

Russia’s Supreme Court has ruled what it called the "international LGBT public movement" as extremist. 

LGBTQ+ representatives warn this will lead to arrests and prosecutions of the already repressed community in Russia. 

The ruling on Thursday was prompted after the Justice Ministry filed a lawsuit earlier this month claiming there were “signs and manifestations of an extremist nature" by LGBTQ+ “social movements” in the country. No evidence was submitted to back these claims. 

The hearing, which took place on Thursday, was done behind closed doors. Nobody from "the defendant's side" had been present, the court said.

The lawsuit did not specify what it meant by "the international LGBT public movement" which does not exist as a legal entity or organisation in the country. It is instead a broad definition used by the Russian authorities.

Many rights activists said the vague definition would allow Russian authorities to target individuals or groups deemed to be part of the "movement."

Max Olenichev, a human rights lawyer who works with the Russian LGBTQ+ community, told AP: "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.”

Amnesty International called the decision by the court “shameful and absurd”, warning that it could lead to “a blanket ban on LGBTQ+ organisations” and “discrimination.”

The court’s decision is the latest in the country’s restriction and decade long crackdown of LGBTQ+ rights. In 2013, Russia passed the “gay propaganda law” which banned any public endorsements of “non-traditional sexual relations" amongst minors. 

Last year, the Kremlin ramped up its campaign against what it called the West's "degrading" influence and passed a law banning the “non-traditional sexual relations" among adults in film, online advertising or public. 

Earlier this year, Russian lawmakers approved a new law that prohibited any “medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person,” and amended Russia’s Family Code by listing gender change as a reason to annul a marriage.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters before the court decision was announced that the Kremlin was "not following" the case and had no comment on it.