Putin tackles Russia’s LGBT community as members of the ‘gay and transsexual movement’ are classified as ‘extremists’ from today

Members of Russia’s LGBTQ community fear that a court ruling due today as part of Putin’s crackdown on gay and transgender rights will label them as “extremists” and pave the way for arrests and prosecution of those who to make one’s self clear.

Russia’s Justice Ministry this month asked the Supreme Court to recognize what it called “the international LGBT social movement” as extremist and ban its activities.

The ministry said that “several signs and manifestations of extremist orientation, including incitement to social and religious discord” had been identified in the activities of Russia’s LGBT movement, without giving examples.

The move is part of a pattern of restrictive measures put in place by Putin regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, including laws banning the promotion of “non-traditional” sexual relationships and banning legal or medical gender reassignment.

“Of course it is very alarming, and I don’t remember that the threat has ever been so serious and real,” Alexei Sergeev, an LGBT activist in St. Petersburg, said in an interview.

He linked the Justice Department’s request to next March’s presidential elections, in which Putin is expected to seek and win a new six-year term: “If it didn’t have a propaganda effect, if it didn’t have a certain degree of support, it it’s unlikely anyone would do it.’

Putin, with support from the Orthodox Church, has long sought to portray Russia as a guardian of traditional morality, in contrast to Western societies which he portrays as decadent in their tolerance of “gay parades” and acceptance of “dozens of genders” .

The Ministry of Justice publishes a list of more than a hundred ‘extremist’ groups that are banned in Russia. Previous lists, for example of the religious movement of Jehovah’s Witnesses and organizations linked to opposition politician Alexei Navalny, have served as a prelude to arrests.

Sergei Troshin, an openly gay St. Petersburg city councilor for the opposition Yabloko party, said security officials seeking advancement would likely open criminal cases once the new designation takes effect. He said the prospect was already spreading fear.

‘Every morning I expect people to come at six o’clock in the morning to search me, ring the doorbell, knock very loudly on the door, as they usually like to do. There will be a search and they say to me: ‘A criminal case has been opened against you for participating in the activities of an extremist organization,’ with all the consequences that entails.’

Sergeev said he feared that activities designed to help LGBTQ people, such as psychological and legal support or even “gatherings where you can just sit and drink tea,” would be restricted.

“This is all going to happen so underground that I’m unfortunately sure there are a lot of people who won’t be able to get help,” he said.

“They will commit suicide or simply find themselves in a terrible state – their lives will be shortened and their health will deteriorate, they will drink and smoke more and so on, as they try to escape this reality somehow.”