Russia's Deputy Justice Minister Discusses Threat of LGBT Community

Russia's Deputy Minister of Justice Oleg Sviridenko has raised concerns about the threat of "gay nationalism" in a speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum during the session titled "Family Values and Traditions as the Foundation of Sustainable Development." The broadcast was made available on the event's website.

He stated that the Ministry of Justice has determined that since 1984, an international LGBT civil movement has been operating in Russia (which has been recognized as extremist and terrorist and is banned in the Russian Federation). In 2023, a request to prohibit the movement was prepared by the Supreme Court, which was granted. Sviridenko clarified that the movement promotes a destructive ideology that undermines family values and poses a threat to democratic values in Russia.

Sviridenko also reminded that former U.S. President Barack Obama declared the fight for the rights of sexual minorities abroad as a priority of American foreign policy. This policy has been continued by Joe Biden, who has suggested strengthening the country’s leadership in LGBT advocacy, according to the Deputy Minister of Justice.

“Individuals from the LGBT community are easily involved in such extremist activities and become carriers of various ideological frameworks and forms of extremism. Now, pay attention—just think about it—in the form of gender extremism and gay nationalism,” Sviridenko stated.

Previously, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had noted a decline in Russian society's tolerance towards LGBT parties. Earlier, Putin had discussed the attitude towards LGBT representatives in Russia.