Russia's Supreme Court has declared what it calls the international public LGBT movement an extremist organization and banned its activities across the country. The decision was prompted by a motion from the ministry of justice, even though such an organization does not exist as a legal entity.
The hearing was held behind closed doors, but journalists were allowed to hear the court's decision. No one from the defendant's side was present.
Russia's constitution was amended three years ago to make it clear that marriage means a union between a man and a woman. Same-sex unions are not recognized here.
Before the decision, I asked Sergei Troshin, a municipal deputy in St. Petersburg who came out as gay last year, what effect it would have, foreign media wrote.
Under Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin has embraced an ideology centered around conservative thinking and traditional family values. Authorities portray LGBT activism as inherently Western and hostile to Russia. Pressure on the LGBT community is presented as a means of protecting Russia's moral fabric.