Russian

The so-called "law on the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors" was adopted in 2013 and tightened in 2022. This is a series of amendments to the Federal Law "On the Protection of Children from Information that harms their Health and Development", the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO) and other laws.

Today in Russia, for "propaganda", you can be fined up to 400 000 rubles if you are an individual, and up to 5 000 000 rubles if you are a legal entity. Also, a link to a site where, according to law enforcement officers, "propaganda is spreading" can be entered into the Unified Register of Prohibited Sites and it will be impossible to access it from the territory of the Russian Federation.

This law is rarely applied, but its consequences are disastrous. Because of this law:

• LGBT+ teenagers do not receive help from school psychologists and social workers: specialists are afraid of being accused of "propaganda", although the law does not prohibit psychological assistance for LGBT+ minors.
• Many LGBT+ families live in constant fear that their children may be taken away. 
• The number of threats, attacks and murders of LGBT+ is growing in Russia, and the police refuse to properly investigate them. People who beat and kill homosexual, bisexual and transgender people often justify their actions by saying that "homosexuality is prohibited in Russia."
• Any public mention of homosexuality, bisexuality or transgenderism can lead to blocking or fines.

In 2021:

• Anastasia Panchenko was fined because of the publication of a photo of her kissing a girl.
• In St. Petersburg, a group of teenagers taking pictures against the background of a rainbow flag was detained by the police.
• In Moscow, the police did not allow to hold a charity evening in support of LGBT+ called "Show me love".
• The website "Guys+" and the VKontakte group "Alliance of Heterosexuals and LGBT People for Equality" were blocked,
  MUZ-TV was fined 1 million rubles for LGBT propaganda.

In 2022:

• The website of the Russian edition of Wonderzine was blocked because of seven texts about LGBTQ.
• The Saratov court decided to block and ban in Russia the clip of Alyona Shvets "Two girls".
• In Moscow, the world court fined TikTok 2 million rubles for LGBT propaganda.

The UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly recognized the law as discriminatory, contrary to the articles 2, 7, 9, 17, 19, 21 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and called for its repeal. Similar opinions were expressed by many other international organizations, including the ECHR. 

The so-called "law on the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations" forms a negative attitude towards the LGBT+ community and creates conditions of social hostility.

We appeal to the deputies of the State Duma of the VIII convocation and demand:

1. Abolish fines for "LGBT+ propaganda".

Exclude articles from the Code of Administrative Offences.

2. Cancel the possibility of banning information products and blocking websites for "LGBT+ propaganda".

Exclude the mention of demonstration and propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, as well as gender reassignment of Federal Laws "On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection", "On Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development", "On Mass Media", "On State Support of Cinematography of the Russian Federation Of the Russian Federation", "On the basic guarantees of the rights of the child in the Russian Federation", "On advertising".

3. Not to adopt new laws that discriminate against the LGBT+ community.

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