A court in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, has designated the Russian LGBT Network as an “extremist organization” and imposed a nationwide ban on its activities. Amnesty International warned that the decision will further marginalize LGBTI people and intensify violations of their human rights. The ruling follows closed hearings requested by the Ministry of Justice and comes shortly after similar “extremist” designations against several other LGBTI groups and initiatives across Russia.
Amnesty International described the move as part of a broader and escalating pattern of persecution, following a 2023 Supreme Court decision that banned the so-called “international LGBT movement.” According to the organization, the Russian LGBT Network has long provided legal, psychological, and emergency support to LGBTI people, and its banning represents a significant setback for human rights protections in the country.
The Russian authorities have increasingly used anti-extremism laws to target LGBTI individuals and organizations, with reports of criminal prosecutions, arrests, fines, and forced closures of community spaces. Since late 2025, courts have issued prison sentences, house arrests, and criminal charges against individuals involved in LGBTI-related activities, including private gatherings, online expression, and advocacy work.
Authorities have also intensified administrative penalties and censorship measures against media, cultural institutions, publishers, and digital platforms accused of promoting “LGBT propaganda.” This has included heavy fines on streaming services, bookstores, publishers, and online platforms, as well as restrictions on LGBTI-themed content in books, films, and other media.
Amnesty International and other rights advocates have condemned these actions as part of a systematic effort to erase LGBTI people from public life in Russia. They are calling on authorities to repeal discriminatory laws, end misuse of extremism legislation, and restore fundamental rights including freedom of expression, association, and non-discrimination for LGBTI communities.
