Russia, protests against the anti-gay law.
Activists released at the Duma are released

MOSCOW – All the activists arrested yesterday in front of the Duma in Moscow were released during a protest against the law for the ban of gay propaganda approved in first reading by a large majority . The news was released by the Interfax news agency.

The Duma, lower house of parliament, has decided to say ‘Yes’ to the introduction of a law already in force in nine regions throughout the national territory and, among other things, also in St. Petersburg. From now on it will therefore be a crime to speak publicly about the rights of gay citizens. The definition, strategically a bit vague, of “propaganda” will give the judge the possibility to punish with heavy fines (up to 15 thousand euros) artists, actors but also ordinary citizens caught to express an opinion in public on the situation of homosexuals. But above all to ban or prevent in advance events, demonstrations, concerts, which can be considered at risk of “gay propaganda”. Prohibited demonstrations in the presence of minors: in practice, any public initiative by homosexuals, Gay Pride, risks being subject to administrative sanctions if there is a minor nearby.

The decision took to the streets some activists who in Moscow challenged the special troops guarding Parliament, trying to kiss in public and shouting slogans. Only a small group of about thirty very young members of the Russian LGBT Network movement, the only LGBT activist cell (Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) throughout the country, which has been struggling for years to claim space and rights.

In the indifference of the Muscovites and the many protest movements, they were stopped and released today. Meanwhile, the most aligned newspapers have published the results of the most serious polling institute in the country, the Levada Center: almost 65 percent of Russians agree with Parliament’s decision. Furthermore, two-thirds of the population believe that homosexuality is a disease and shares the recent decision by the Russian army to remove all “homosexual suspects” from military service.

Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, but a homophobic sentiment remains strong in the country.

(January 26, 2013)