THEGAYUK

Tag: Russia News

Get the latest LGBT+ Russia news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Russia.

  • Petition to Putin reaches over 221,000 signatures

    A petition hosted on the AllOut.org website has reached over 221,000 signatures imploring President Putin to stop his crackdown against the Russian LGBT community.

    The petition that calls for President Putin to stop the ‘crackdown against lesbian, gay, bi and trans people’ has been signed by nearly a quarter of a million people.

    With global attention now falling on Russia because of the Winter Olympics and it’s harsh stance and anti-gay laws, the AllOut petition is promising to deliver every name to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) head office in Switzerland, a message which AllOut.org says the IOC cannot ignore.

    The petition urges ‘leaders around the world and within Russia to work to eliminate all anti-gay laws and protect all citizens from violence and discrimination in Russia.’

    In June President Putin signed a law that prohibits the promotional of ‘non-traditional relationships’ to anyone under the age of 18.

    Concern is rising about how this law will affect visitors to Russia during the Olympic games, as it is unclear how the law will be policed and what constitutes a violation.

    AllOut’s goal is for 300,000 people to sign the petition. The petition went live on the 7th June.

    To sign the petition visit: http://www.allout.org/Olympics

  • Gay bars in Leeds dump Russian vodka in time for Leeds pride

    Gay bars in Leeds have boycotted Russian produced Vodka in the build up to Leeds Pride.

    Gay bars across Leeds have joined together in solidarity with the Russian LGBT community by boycotting Russian produced vodkas, a week before Leeds Pride, a statement from gayleeds.com has announced.

    “Although removing the lines of Russian vodka from the gayleeds scene won’t make a massive dint in the Russian economy it will however prove that the LGB&T bars in our city care about the persecution that is going on against the gay community in Russia.” the press release read

    “Knowing which Vodka is produced in Russia is a tricky one as many that originated from Russia no longer have a connection with Russia at all.

    “This is why the bars, clubs and other venues in gayleeds have gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure that only non Russian lines are available in time for pride and beyond”.

    The news comes days after American and London’s Soho Bars started to announce their boycott of Russian vodkas.

    The Leeds bar which have banded together are: Queens Court, Fibre, The Bridge, The New Penny, Blayds and The Viaduct Showbar.

  • Russian thugs allegedly post fake personal ads to torture teens

    Neo Nazi groups in Russia are allegedly creating fake personal ads to tempt gay teens on dates;only to bully, attack and torture the unsuspecting victims.

    Gay Community News is reporting that Russian Neo-Nazi groups are posting fake personal profiles on the popular Russian VK.com website, which is a social network, in order to lure unsuspecting gay teens for dates, except when they arrive they are beaten and tortured, often in public places.

    The Spectrum Human Rights Alliance (SHRA), an Eastern European LGBT advocacy organisation reports that over 500 groups have been created on the VK.com website, with the aim to organise anti-gay vigilante style groups in cities across Russia.

    The reports states:

    “These self-proclaimed “crime fighters” perform their actions under the broad day light, often outside and clearly visible to general public that indifferently passes by or even commend them. Video recordings of bullying and tortures are freely distributed on the Internet in order to out LGBT teens to their respective schools, parents and friends. Many victims were driven to suicides, the rest are deeply traumatized.”

    The SHRA also notes that the Russian police have taken no action against these vigilantes – even though it’s against Russia’s criminal code.

    The report also states that:

    Social network VK.com intermittently shuts down selected groups and profiles only to allow them to be re-open on the next day.

    The found of VK.com Pavel Durov has not released a statement about the creation of these groups.

    This report comes just weeks after President Putin signed a law, which prevents the ‘promotion’ of a homosexual lifestyle to anyone under the age of 18.

  • UK Government updates advice for LGBT travellers to Russia

    The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its advice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans travellers to Russia after new anti-gay laws take effect in Russia.

    After TheGayUK contacted the FCO on Friday last week, the Government has updated its advice for LGBT travellers to Russia.

    A Spokesperson for the FOC said:

    “We have updated our travel advice for Russia to reflect the new law and to give British travellers the information they need to make their own informed decisions about travelling to Russia. The travel advice can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia.”

    The advice on the FOC website includes a warning from the FCO against travelling to Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan and the districts of Budyonnovsky, Levokumsky, Neftekumsky, Stepnovsky and Kursky in Stavropol Krai.

    The news comes as 4 Dutch tourists were detained in Russia after being suspected of promoting homosexuality after the Russian government signed a law banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relationships”

  • Russia boycott petition goes live

    A petition to boycott the Russian Winter Olympics has been created on the official UK Government’s website.

    A petition has gone live calling for the boycott of Russia’s Winter Olympics in 2014.

    The petition reads:

    Boycott 2014 Winter Olympics

    Responsible department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    With the increasingly homophobic stance being taken by the Russian government and parliament, including calls to arrest LGBT tourists. I call upon the UK Government to strongly advise the British Olympic Association to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

    The petition has already garnered over 3,500 signatures.

    To sign the petition click here

  • Court appearance delayed for gay tourists arrested for “gay prop”

    The Russian LGBT Network (RLGBTN) have announced that up to four gay Dutch tourists have been arrested and detained by police.

    Writing on their Facebook wall, the RLGBTN stated that four Dutch nationals had been detained by police under charges of gay propaganda.

    In a statement the network said:
    Four Dutch citizens are accused of spreading “propaganda of non-traditional relationships among the under-aged” (that is, gay propaganda). 20th and 21st of July on the campsite called “Frigate”, a cultural event was held under the title “Youth for Human Rights Camp”. In its program there was included the performance of Kris van der Veen from Dutch LGBT-Groningen,http://www.lgbtgroningen.nl/. In addition, there were shown shots of a documentary telling about the Human Rights situation in Russia.
    On the 21st of July police officers and representatives of the Russian Federal Migration Service arrived at the campsite, questioned the participants and stated that the article 6.21.3 (“propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among the under-aged, spread by citizen of a foreign country”) was violated because in the video material there were interviews of under-aged people.
    The Dutch said that the testimony written in the protocole don’t reflect reality but they were anyway forced to sign in because, as police officers said, “that’s how Russia works”.
    The Russian LGBT Network and a Muurmansk-based LGBT organization “Maksimum” give judicial aid to the accused and provide them with information. The General Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and international Human Rights organizations are kept informed about the situation.

    The court hearing will be held today at 14.30.
    The court hearing which was due for day (Monday 22nd July) it has been delayed.
    The Russian LGBT Network provides legal assistance.”

    The official and legal definition of ‘homosexual propaganda’ is currently unclear, however reports are emerging of arrests for kissing, holding hands, wearing or using rainbows.

    The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has also updated its advice for gay people travelling to Russia. On their website the DoFA states:

     

    “Homosexuality was illegal in the USSR up until 1993 when it was decriminalised. However, a federal law has recently been approved that prohibits the promotion of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism in the Russian Federation. Fines can now be imposed on those who provide information about the homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities to minors. According to the legislation, public displays of affection or activities regarded as counter to the law may also lead to fines, arrests and deportations.”

  • Three tourists arrested in Russia for “gay propaganda”

    The Russian LGBT Network (RLGBTN) have announced that three Dutch tourist have been arrested and detained by police.

    Writing on their Facebook wall, the RLGBTN stated that three Dutch nationals had been detained by police under charges of gay propaganda.

    In a statement the network said:

    “At the moment they were released from the police station. Police compiled reports on the violation of rules of stay in the territory of Russia and the violation of the law of the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.”

    Court hearing will be at 9 a.m. (Moscow time) 22 July 2013.

    The Russian LGBT Network provides legal assistance.”

    The official and legal definition of ‘homosexual propaganda’ is currently unclear, however reports are emerging of arrests for kissing, holding hands, wearing or using rainbows.

    The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has also updated its advice for gay people travelling to Russia. On their website the DoFA states,

    “Homosexuality was illegal in the USSR up until 1993 when it was decriminalised. However, a federal law has recently been approved that prohibits the promotion of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism in the Russian Federation. Fines can now be imposed on those who provide information about the homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities to minors. According to the legislation, public displays of affection or activities regarded as counter to the law may also lead to fines, arrests and deportations.”

  • Gay tourists in Russia could be jailed or deported

    A warning for gay travellers and tourists thinking about venturing to Russia this year might need to rethink their plans after Russia passes anti-gay law.

    The new bill, now fully in effect could find openly gay visitors, detained for up to fourteen days, if found to be promoting homosexuality, although it is unclear what constitutes promotion.

    The new bill, now fully in effect could find openly gay visitors, detained for up to fourteen days, if found to be promoting homosexuality, although it is unclear what constitutes promotion.

    Skift.com has written:

    The law also contains a provision permitting the government to arrest and detain gay, or pro-gay, foreigners for up to 14 days before they would then be expelled from the country. That provision ought to send chills to anyone gay, lesbians, bisexual or transgender who is planning to attend or participate in the Winter Olympics.

    The International Olympic Committee released a statement calling for the acceptance of all athletes due to attend Russia’s winter Olympics.

    The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation,” the statement said. “The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes. We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardize this principle.”

    The official and legal definition of ‘homosexual propaganda’ is currently unclear, however reports are emerging of arrests for kissing, holding hands, wearing or using rainbows.

    The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has also updated its advice for gay people travelling to Russia. On their website the DoFA states:

    “Homosexuality was illegal in the USSR up until 1993 when it was decriminalised. However, a federal law has recently been approved that prohibits the promotion of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism in the Russian Federation. Fines can now be imposed on those who provide information about the homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities to minors. According to the legislation, public displays of affection or activities regarded as counter to the law may also lead to fines, arrests and deportations.”

    Actress Tilda Swinton was recently seen in front of the Kremlin holding a rainbow flag with a statement that read:

    “In solidarity. From Russia with love.”

  • Call for Boycott on Moscow World Championships

    A group called Boycott Moscow 2013 have called for the rejection of the 2013 World Championship in Athletics in Moscow.

    The group has created the page in response to the anti-gay law that was passed by the Russian Government earlier this week, where 434 – 0 voted to pass the controversial bill that could see anyone marching in a pride or even talking about homosexuality to anyone under 18 receive hefty fines or even jail time.

    Scenes of violence erupted against 20 gay and pro-gay campaigners,, when a group of 200-strong anti-gay protesters physically abused, threw rotten eggs and chanted ‘Russia Not Sodom.’
    Photographer Ilya Varlamov captured the scenes, (view the pictures here) which included one of police standing on the neck, allegedly, of a pro-gay activist.

    One bystander purportedly heard an unidentified Duma official from the Communist Party approached and shook hands with a policeman, and reportedly said: “So are you guys ramping up the pressure on these faggots? Beat them up well! Cut their balls off!”
    In a statement on the official Facebook page the organisers wrote:

    ‘This TuesdayThe Russian Parliament, the Doma, Passed Two Fascist, Homophobic and anti LGBT Laws:

    1. “Banning Propaganda of Non-Traditional Sexual relations”

    2. “Offending Religious Feelings”
    This [sic] two laws make it practically illegal to be openly gay in Russia.

    We cannot remain silent while this horrible country receives postivies [sic] reviews during the 2013 Moscow Games. We must show Putin that LGBT Rights of Russian are not an “internal issue” that can be shadowed.
    WE MUST BOYCOTT MOSCOW 2013’

    AllOut.org have a petition for the Russian President, Putin. Nearly 125,000 people have already signed it.
    The petition asks:
    ‘TO PRESIDENT PUTIN, RUSSIAN POLITICIANS AND ALL WORLD LEADERS:

    We stand with citizens across Russia who are calling on their government to stop the crackdown against lesbian, gay, bi and trans people that is fuelling anti-gay violence.We urge leaders around the world and within Russia to work to eliminate all anti-gay laws and protect all citizens from violence and discrimination in Russia.’

    Sign it it here www.allout.org/en/actions/russia-attacks

  • “Cut their balls off” Russian anti-gay protesters ramp up pressure

    As the Russian lower house passes a law that could see anyone who ‘promotes homosexual propaganda’ to anyone under 18 face stiff fines or even jail sentences, 200 anti-gay protesters beat, threw bottles at and abused pro-gay activists.

    Disturbing images from Ilya Varlamov show to some extent the abuse that 20 pro-gay rights activists faced yesterday as Russia’s government voted 434-0 to install a new bill that could leave anyone promoting a homosexual lifestyle to anyone under the age of 18 with jail time or a hefty fine.

    Vocativ reports that at one point ‘an unidentified Duma official from the Communist Party approached and shook hands with a policeman, and reportedly said: “So are you guys ramping up the pressure on these faggots? Beat them up well! Cut their balls off!” ‘

    Violence towards gay and pro-gay rights activists has been ramped up in the past few months, with two murders and numerous attacks happening within a few weeks of each other.

    AllOut.org have a petition for the Russian President, Putin. Nearly 85,000 people have already signed it.

     

    The petition asks,

    ‘TO PRESIDENT PUTIN, RUSSIAN POLITICIANS AND ALL WORLD LEADERS:

    We stand with citizens across Russia who are calling on their government to stop the crackdown against lesbian, gay, bi and trans people that is fuelling anti-gay violence.

    We urge leaders around the world and within Russia to work to eliminate all anti-gay laws and protect all citizens from violence and discrimination in Russia.’

     

    Sign it it here www.allout.org/en/actions/russia-attacks

  • Possible Homophobic Murder Puts Russia’s Gay Community On Edge

    A man has been killed in what is being reported as a possible homophobic attack in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, early on Friday morning.

    The 23-year-old man who has not yet been named was found dead in the courtyard of an apartment building. His wounds included multiple stab wounds including some in the genital area, the federal Investigative Committee said on Saturday.

    Reuters is reporting that, a 22-year-old acquaintance of the victim and a 27-year-old ex-convict had been detained on suspicion of murder.

    Andrei Gapchenko, who is investigating the killing, said the victim had been drinking with the two men – who then attacked him after revealing his sexuality.

    Leading gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev said a bill to outlaw spreading “homosexual propaganda” among minors, given preliminary approval by parliament in January, would make Russians less likely to fear consequences for attacking gays.

    “This monstrous incident in Volgograd demonstrates the fruits of the homophobic policy that is being conducted in this country, including the initiative to ban homosexual propaganda,” Interfax news agency quoted Alexeyev as saying.