Over the weekend, Russian police conducted raids on several bars and nightclubs in Moscow as part of the government's efforts to curb what they refer to as 'LGBTQ+ propaganda.' Smartphones, laptops, and video cameras were confiscated during the raids, and clubgoers were subjected to document inspections by law enforcement officers, according to reports from Russia's Tass news agency.
The crackdown comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling in Russia last year that deemed the 'LGBTQ+ movement' as an 'extremist organization.' This decision is a culmination of a long-standing suppression of LGBTQ+ rights in the country, with President Vladimir Putin championing 'traditional family values' throughout his tenure.
Footage circulating on social media depicted party attendees being instructed by police to lie on the floor as officers combed through Moscow's Arma nightclub. The capital's Mono bar was also a target of the police operation, although the club's management did not explicitly mention any run-ins with law enforcement in a post on Telegram, stating, 'Friends, we're so sorry that what happened, happened. They didn't find anything forbidden. We live in such times, but life must go on.'
In a separate incident, the head of the 'Men Travel' tour agency was detained under anti-LGBT laws for allegedly organizing a trip for individuals with 'nontraditional sexual values' to Egypt during Russia's New Year holidays.
Activists in Russia have expressed concerns that the government's classification of the 'LGBTQ+ movement' as 'extremist' could pave the way for arbitrary crackdowns on groups or individuals. Recent legislation signed by Putin has further tightened restrictions on activities deemed contrary to the country's 'traditional values,' including a ban on the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender-affirming care is legal and outlawing the dissemination of materials discouraging procreation.
