The Russian Supreme Court has ruled that the LGBT movement is "extremist", and this move, according to warnings from organizations for the protection of human rights, will enable Russia to put even more pressure on gay and transgender people.
The Russian Ministry of Justice has asked the country's Supreme Court to declare what it calls an "international LGBT social movement" - an "extremist" organization, instilling fear in the LGBT community, Radio Free Europe (RSE) writes in English.
The ministry said in a statement announcing the lawsuit that authorities had identified "signs and manifestations of an extremist nature" in the "activities of the LGBT movement" in Russia, including "inciting social and religious discord."
After a closed-door hearing, the Supreme Court announced on November 30 that it had approved the Ministry's request to label the "international LGBT social movement" as extremist, banning its activities in Russia.
Russian human rights organizations asked the Supreme Court to reject the request, warning that "it is impossible to call a group of people a 'social movement' just because they are united by some personal characteristics."
Under Russia's law on extremism, which was passed in 2002, any designated organization is effectively banned, and the measure has been amended and tightened over the years.
Other groups that are considered extremist they include Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, Jehovah's Witnesses and, more recently, Meta, Facebook's parent company.
The abolition of the rights of LGBT people in Russia began ten years ago.
In 2013, the Kremlin passed the first law restricting LGBT rights, known as the "gay propaganda" law, banning any public display of "non-traditional sexual relations" among minors.
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