Chronicle of pressure on LGBTQ people: Human rights news, court updates & analysis | 62 related articles

14.08.2025

18:37

Vadim Vaganov, an LGBTQ journalist with the queer media outlet “Parni+,” has been fined 100,000 rubles (approximately US$1,100) under the “LGBT propaganda” administrative article (Art. 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Vaganov himself reported this to OVD-Info.

The protocol was drawn up over a post in Vaganov’s Telegram channel “Khrenogubka,” dedicated to the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and a photograph captioned “make love, not war.” Both posts were published on 17 May of this year.

As Vaganov explained on his Telegram channel, an expert commission of three people concluded that the posts contain “linguistic and psychological features of information” which they said promote queer relationships.

According to the experts, the publications persuade readers “of the attractiveness of gay relationships and form a positive image of people in gay relationships” and “are shaping a distorted idea of the social equivalence of ‘traditional’ and ‘non-traditional’ relationships.” They also claimed the posts contain “signs of a sociocultural threat to the security” of Russia.

The protocol was submitted to the justice of the peace for Court District No. 178 in Pushkinsky District, St Petersburg, on 17 July. The case was considered over two hearings.

Vadim Vaganov is an LGBTQ activist from St Petersburg, a participant in opposition and anti-war rallies, and a former candidate for municipal deputy. In November 2024, the Ministry of Justice added him to the list of “foreign agents.” In July this year, the activist reported that someone threw a stone with the inscription “foreign agent” through his window.

12:54

Moscow

A protocol has been drawn up against the founder and chief editor of MOST.media, Olga Proskurnina, for “LGBT propaganda” among minors (part 4 of article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences), reports the Telegram channel “Crime 6.21.”

According to them, the reason was an article describing the lives of queer people in contemporary Russia and the censorship in culture, which affects almost any mention of LGBTQ+ individuals.

The protocol was submitted to Magistrates' Court District No. 374 in Moscow on 12 August. The hearing is scheduled for 10 September.

MOST.media brings together writers and editors who previously worked at the outlet Republic.

06.08.2025

11:45

Moscow

In Moscow, a court has fined the alleged manager of the “Mangalib” platform, Ivan Kvast, an additional 600,000 roubles (approximately US$6,670) over three charges of “LGBT propaganda” (Article 6.21 of the Administrative Offences Code). “Mediazona” drew attention to the rulings published on the website of Magistrates’ Court No. 347.

These charges accused Kvast of “LGBT propaganda” online among adults (part 3, Article 6.21 of the Administrative Offences Code). The court reviewed them on 29 July and 4 August. Each resulted in a fine of 200,000 roubles. The cases were brought in connection with the manga “Fujoshi Haru-chan Likes to Drink,” “Banana Fish,” and “Reincarnation in the Colosseum.”

In June, Kvast was fined 400,000 roubles (about US$4,440) under the article for “LGBT propaganda” among minors (part 4, Article 6.21 of the Administrative Offences Code). That case involved the manga “Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie.”

Kvast did not attend the court sessions. At present, the manga referred to in the court rulings are not accessible via the provided links.

On 14 August, the court will review three more similar charges against Kvast (1, 2, 3), and four more on 20 August (1, 2, 3, 4).

Previously, it was reported that ten such charges had reached the court since the start of summer—that number has now reached 11.

Furthermore, since the beginning of July, another 11 charges of “LGBT propaganda” have been filed with the Tagansky District Court—these have been drawn up against the legal entity “Mangalib.” On 25 August, the court will consider four of these (1, 2, 3, 4).

“Mangalib” is an online platform and mobile app where people can read comics in the genres of manga, manhwa, and manhua in Russian.

30.07.2025

11:51

Since the beginning of the summer, Magistrates’ Court No. 374 in Tagansky District, Moscow, has received 10 protocols against Ivan Kvast under the “LGBT propaganda” article (Art. 6.21 of the Administrative Code). Mediazona drew attention to this.

Kvast was fined under three protocols on 26 June and 29 July (1, 2, 3), and one of these decisions has already been published. In the court document, Kvast, a Moscow resident, is described as a project manager for “Mangaliba.” This particular protocol was issued over a comic about “the young revolutionary Utena,” for which he was fined 400,000 roubles (about US$4,400). The outcome of the other two protocols is unknown.

Seven out of the ten protocols were received by the court on 29 July, and two more on 2 July.

This summer, four protocols were also drawn up against the legal entity “MangaLiba” for “LGBT propaganda” (1, 2, 3, 4). All of them are scheduled for review on 25 August, with 10 minutes allocated for each case, according to the case records.

“MangaLib” is an online platform and mobile app where users can read comics in the manga, manhwa and manhua genres in Russian. In June, the service gained a new co-owner: Boris Makarenkov, the head of the Russian entity of the Storytel platform and a co-owner of “Litnet.”

29.07.2025

20:26

Moscow

Teenagers who filmed videos at the Sretensky Monastery have been charged with “LGBT propaganda” (Article 6.21 of the Administrative Code), reports TASS.

On 18 July, three young people attended a service at the Sretensky Monastery dressed in women’s clothing and filmed several videos there. Two of them have been formally charged, while materials regarding the third young man have been sent by law enforcement to the commission on juvenile affairs. Police also said they have launched an investigation into offences relating to the “insulting of religious feelings” (Article 148 of the Russian Criminal Code) and “violating legislation on freedom of religion” (Article 5.26 of the Administrative Code).

18.07.2025

13:27

Moscow

The bookshop Falanster has been fined 800,000 rubles (approx. US$8,900), and its general director Boris Kupriyanov 100,000 rubles (approx. US$1,100) under the article on so-called “LGBTQ propaganda” (part 1, article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by Mediazona.

In late May, the court had already issued fines to both the shop and Kupriyanov on charges related to an “undesirable organisation.” At that time, Falanster was fined 80,000 rubles (approx. US$900), and its co-founder received a fine of 40,000 rubles (approx. US$450). The reason was a book by Belarusian anarchist and political prisoner Igor Olinevich about being held in the KGB detention centre in Minsk. Russian law enforcement decided the book had been published with the support of the “Anarchist Black Cross Federation,” which is considered an “undesirable organisation” in Russia.

We originally wrote that Kupriyanov was fined under the article for participating in the activities of an undesirable organisation (article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences), based on information from the “Word to the Defence” channel. This article is also listed in the case summary. However, it is clear from the published decision that Kupriyanov was found guilty specifically of ‘LGBTQ propaganda.’ We apologise for the error.

11.07.2025

17:24

Moscow

Six administrative offence reports for so-called “LGBT propaganda” (part 3 of article 6.21 of the Administrative Code) have been drawn up against blogger Veronika Koshkina. Mediazona reported on the case files, which are listed in the database of Moscow city courts, in these records.

It is not known what triggered the administrative proceedings. Koshkina runs an Instagram blog about her life and travels with her girlfriend.

10:12

Moscow

Three reports have been drawn up against the Mangalib manga fan club under the article on “LGBTQ propaganda” (Art. 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing the court’s press service.

Previously, a report had already been drawn up against Mangalib for “LGBTQ propaganda” among minors (part 2 of Art. 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The court will consider this case on 28 August.

The reports have been submitted to the Tagansky District Court in Moscow. The reason for their submission is unknown.

10.07.2025

21:47

Moscow

The editor-in-chief of Sport24, Samvel Avakyan, has been fined 200,000 roubles (approx. US$2,250) under the article on LGBTQ propaganda in the media or online (Part 3, Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by TASS.

The decision was made by the magistrate of judicial precinct No. 374 in Moscow’s Tagansky district. Avakyan was held responsible as an official. In the same court, another case against Avakyan has been scheduled for 29 July—this time under the article on LGBTQ propaganda among minors (Part 4, Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

14 July The reason for the fine against the Sport24 editor-in-chief was a news story about the coming out of Czech speed skater Martina Sablikova, who spoke about her relationship with Nicola Zdrahalova, another athlete from the national team. This was reported by Verstka, which drew attention to the published court ruling.

“The information in the article is presented exclusively in a positive light, indicating that the athletes have been in a relationship (as a couple) for a long time, they are happy together, and share a wonderful life. The content is such that it creates a socio-psychological attitude not only of approval for non-traditional sexual relationships but also forms a distorted idea of the social equivalence of traditional and non-traditional sexual relationships,” the court decision states.

The document also references an assessment by the “Main Radio Frequency Centre” under Roskomnadzor, which concluded that the material contains “information promoting non-traditional sexual relationships and/or preferences.”

The news story on the Sport24 website was published in April 2025. It has now been removed. Avakyan, through his representatives, told the court he does not admit guilt.

14:57

Republic of Bashkortostan

A protocol was drawn up against Pavel Osipov, an activist with the “Sterlitamak, Breathe!” movement, under the article on the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations on the internet (Part 4, Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences), reports “7×7.”

The court will consider the case on 15 July. According to Osipov himself, the grounds for the protocol were a photo published on social media in October 2024. He took the image from case material in which he was working as a lawyer. The picture shows two young women kissing, one of whom was a figure in an extortion case. According to the activist, the complaint against him was written by a local resident, Viktoria Pivovartseva.

Osipov is known as a campaigner against air pollution in Sterlitamak, a city in Bashkortostan. In 2023, activists held a protest wearing gas masks, and in autumn 2024 they gathered 17,000 signatures on a petition calling for the resignation of officials responsible for the environment. Two years ago, police came to Osipov’s workplace after he was photographed next to a poster saying “For Putin! For victory! For clean air!” during a city run.

16 July The Sterlitamak City Court fined Pavel Osipov 100,000 roubles (about US$1,100), reports UFA1.ru.

According to the case file on the court’s website, the decision was issued on 15 July.

Сюжет

Chronicle of pressure on LGBTQ people

14.08.2025

06.08.2025

30.07.2025

29.07.2025

18.07.2025

11.07.2025

10.07.2025