On November 23, a group of police officers broke into a nightclub in Voronezh, called Zebra, to interrupt a private queer costume party, according to information from the Russian portal PostNews. Around forty people participated in the event, including THE encounterhas artist hang out Zaza Naples. The same media report that a criminal case has already been opened against the organizers, accused of “extremism”, probably linked to “LGTB+ propaganda”, an offense which can result in up to ten years in prison. Attendees were questioned as part of what authorities called “preventive maintenance” and the club was temporarily closed.
In early November, in a similar incident, law enforcement raided the queer club Black Clover in Kirov. three artists hang out and the club’s owner were accused of organizing an “extremist community”. The official media defined the bar as a “propaganda promoting non-traditional sexual relations” and a “hater against those who do not tolerate gender diversity.” This case adds to a series of repressive measures aimed at silencing and persecuting any inclusive space for the LGTB+ community.
Organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the Russian group Russian LGBT Network have widely documented increased repression against the LGBT+ community under Kremlin rule. These actions include passing laws banning “propaganda of non-traditional relationships” and using accusations of “extremism” to justify arrests, searches, and shutting down queer spaces. The Russian LGBT Network notably emphasized that these police operations aim not only to close clubs or events, but also to intimidate people weird and reinforce a state narrative that dehumanizes this community.
The recent cases in Voronezh, Kirov and Chita are just a few examples of a broader campaign against LGBT+ people in Russia, which includes legal and social harassment. These incidents are taking place in a climate of growing hostility, fueled by state laws and policies that promote hatred and discrimination. Despite this, human rights organizations continue to denounce these abuses and provide support to the victims of this persecution.
