UPDATED: Russian President Vladimir Putin Labels ‘LGBT Movement’ As Extremist And Terrorist Organizations

UPDATED: Russian President Vladimir Putin Labels ‘LGBT Movement’ As Extremist And Terrorist Organizations 

Russia has included the “LGBT movement” in its list of extremist and terrorist organizations, according to state media reports.

This decision aligns with a judgement by Russia’s Supreme Court from last November, which labeled LGBTQ activists as extremists.

Members of the LGBTQ community expressed concerns that this designation could result in arrests and legal actions against them.

The list of extremist and terrorist organizations is managed by an agency known as Rosfinmonitoring, which has the authority to freeze the bank accounts of over 14,000 individuals and entities identified as extremists and terrorists.

The entities listed vary from Al Qaeda to major tech corporations like Meta and individuals associated with the late Russian opposition figure, Alexei Navalny.

The new listing refers to the “international LGBT social movement and its structural units,” state news agency RIA said.

This move is part of a broader shift in Russia under President Vladimir Putin, who has emphasized traditional family values in contrast to what he perceives as Western decadence.

Over the last decade, Russia has imposed stricter regulations on manifestations of sexual orientation and gender identity.

This includes passing laws that prohibit the promotion of “non-traditional” sexual relationships and banning legal or medical gender changes.