Russia on Thursday banned the “international LGBT movement,” claiming it was an extremist group in a move that cements a long crackdown on the community as the Kremlin pushes ultra-conservative social values.
The Supreme Court handed down the ruling in Moscow on Thursday, AFP journalists in court reported.
It did not say whether certain individuals or organizations would be affected by the ruling.
Judge Oleg Nefedov ruled that “the international LGBT public movement and its subdivisions” were extremist, and issued a “ban on its activities on the territory of Russia”.
The hearing took place behind closed doors and without any defense present.
If applied to individuals, the “extremist” label means gay, lesbian, transgender or queer people living in Russia could face years in jail.
It also opens the way to the criminal prosecution of any group protecting the rights of these communities in Russia.
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