Russia Outlaws Top LGBTQ Rights Group As “Extremist”

Agence France-Presse reports:

A Russian court on Monday labelled the country’s top LGBTQ rights group as “extremist,” effectively outlawing the organization and paving the way to prosecute its supporters. Russia has for years targeted LGBTQ organizations but has become even more hostile since launching its full-scale assault of Ukraine in 2022, massively accelerating the country’s hardline conservative turn.

On Monday, a court in St. Petersburg ruled in favor of a case brought by the Russian justice ministry to brand the Russian LGBT Network — a top LGBTQ rights nonprofit — “extremist.” “The public movement has been designated as an extremist organization, and its activities are banned in Russia,” the court’s press service said on Telegram.

The hearing was held behind closed doors. The designation could mean anybody associated with the group risks years behind bars for supporting an extremist organization — akin to terrorism charges under Russia’s criminal code.

Read the full article.

Russia has labeled its leading LGBTQ+ rights group, the Russian LGBT Network, as “extremist,” effectively banning the organization and exposing supporters to possible criminal prosecution.

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— TVP World (@tvpworld.bsky.social) April 27, 2026 at 4:08 PM

The Russian Supreme Court banned the nonexistent “International LGBT Movement” in 2023. Now the courts are going after more and more real organizations, including the Russian LGBT Network and at least five other LGBTQ+ initiatives. meduza.io/en/news/2026…

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— Meduza in English (@meduza.io) April 27, 2026 at 11:39 AM

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