Case Review: RF and Bulatov v. Tsvetkova and other charges against an artist

April 8, 2024

By Irina Strelkovskaya

Background

Yulia Tsvetkova is an artist and LGBTQ+ and women’s rights activist from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, in the Far East of the Russian Federation. [1] In 2018, Tsvetkova began her activism and opened a city community center for civic initiatives, where she hosted weekly lectures, called “Living Library” sessions, to support groups for schoolchildren and mothers. [2] Also, in 2018, Yulia and her mother, Anna Khodyreva, organized a theater studio for teenagers (6-16 years old) called “Merak”. The Serbian word “merak” translates to “joy” or “pleasure in the little things of life”. [3] This word was introduced into the Serbian language from Turkish, where “merak etmek” means “to care about” or “to be interested in”. [4] During its one-year existence, the theater studio staged nine performances which were focused on different social issues, such as gender stereotypes, bullying, critiques of aggression, and military propaganda. In addition to these projects, Yulia administrated a feminist blog called “Vagina Monologues” on VK, a Russian analogue of Facebook. [5] In 2020, she became one of the Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards Arts Fellows. [6]

In February 2019, the Merak theater was preparing four performances for the activist art festival called “Color of Saffron:” a dance about the Prague Spring, a performance on prosecution titled “The Untouchables,” a satirical anti-war performance named “Bless the Lord and His Ammunition,” and a humorous performance titled “Pink and Blue” about the dangers of gender stereotypes. [7]

A few days before the festival, representatives from the city administration contacted the theater administrator to inquire about the festival and its performances. [8] The following day, the venue of the festival refused to host it and Yulia was summoned to speak with the city administration. [9] As Yulia understood, the city administration was interested in and questioned her specifically about the performance titled “Pink and Blue”. This performance delved into the theme of gender stereotypes and portrayed a future where new generations aspired for equal rights and opportunities irrespective of gender. The title of the play was suggested by one of the theater actors and it refers to the colors that are stereotypically considered “feminine” or “masculine”. [10] Moreover, as Yulia mentioned in one of her interviews, the theater operated on a “horizontal” basis, meaning that each child actively participated in creating the performances and even had the opportunity to direct parts of the scenes. [11]

On March 11-12, 2019, police visited the schools, where children who were members of the theater, were studying. During these visits, some children were interrogated by the police without the permission and presence of their parents. [12] The police asked them about “LGBT propaganda”, feminism, sex education, gender equality and extremism. [13] The following day, the owner of the festival’s new location was summoned to speak to city officials. During the meeting, she was informed that she would be at risk of losing her property in case she hosted an “LGBT Festival”. [14]

Nevertheless, the theater secured a new venue, and on March 16th, 2019, the “Color of Saffron” festival took place in Anna Khodyreva’s art studio premises, exclusively for the parents of the actors and a select group of press representatives. [15] Unfortunately, in September 2019, Julia decided to close the theater for the safety of the children so that they would not encounter problems with the police in the future. [16]

The aforementioned events were allegedly in violation of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 135-FZ “On the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.” [17]

Russian Law against “Gay Propaganda” among minors

At the end of 2011, the State Duma (the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia) started discussing the need to create a new federal law regarding “Gay Propaganda” among minors as it could cause harm to their health and development. Elena Mizulina, the head of the Committee of the State Duma on Family, Women, and Children, was appointed responsible for passing the law. On January 25, 2013, at the first reading, the law was approved by 388 votes (with one vote against and one abstention). [18]

On June 11, 2013, the State Duma approved the law at the second and third readings prohibiting “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.” Furthermore, the State Duma introduced a new administrative article, along with the laws “On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development” and “On the Basic Guarantees of the Rights of the Child in the Russian Federation.” The law was approved by 436 votes (with one abstaining). [19]

On June 26, 2019, the law was approved by the Federation Council. [20] On June 29, 2019, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed it and on July 2, 2013, the law came into force after its official publication in the “Rossiyskaya Gazeta”. [21]

According to the new Article 6.21. of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:

“1. Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences or gender reassignment, expressed in the dissemination of information and (or) the performance of public actions aimed at the formation of non-traditional sexual attitudes, the attractiveness of non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences or gender reassignment or a distorted idea of social equivalence of traditional and non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, or the imposition of information about non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences or gender reassignment, causing interest in such relationships and (or) preferences or gender reassignment, except as provided for in Article 6.21 .1 of this Code, if these actions do not contain signs of a criminally punishable act, – shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine on citizens in the amount of fifty thousand to one hundred thousand rubles; on officials – from one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand rubles; on legal entities – from eight hundred thousand to one million rubles or an administrative suspension of activities for a period of up to ninety days.” [22]

On January 17, 2014, during an interview with the british interviewer Andrew Marr, Vladimir Putin said that the law “does not discriminate against gay people” [23]. The European Court of Human Rights in the decision Bayev and others v. Russia instead held that “​​by adopting such laws the authorities reinforce stigma and prejudice and encourage homophobia, which is incompatible with the notions of equality, pluralism and tolerance inherent in a democratic society.”[24]

From 2013 hundreds of people in Russia faced administrative charges [25] and one of them became Yulia Tsvetkova.

Persecution

My example shows that there are no peaceful actions and self-organized initiatives for the state. I didn’t do any sharp radical actions. Yulia Tsvetkova [26]

In October 2019, Yulia was invited to show the video of the performance “Pink and Blue” at the feminist festival “Eva’s Ribs” in St. Petersburg. On November 20, 2019, Yulia was detained at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur train station, on her way back from the festival. [27]

During the interrogation, the police showed her the video of the performance “Pink and Blue” and asked about Yulia’s rights to film and show the performance for the public. [28] The police took a written recognizance not to leave the city and not to disclose the materials of the case. [29] During the interrogation Yulia asked if it would be possible for her to leave the city to visit friends to which the police responded positively. [30] he police then conducted searches and took away all of Yulia and her mom’s electronic devices, including computers, laptops, and phones. Yulia said that during the search the police officers verbally accused her of being a “lesbian, sex trainer, and propagandist leader.” [31] The police said that they detained Yulia and accused of illegal production and traffic of pornographic material through the Internet, under Article 242(3b) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, citing her blog “Vagina Monologues” as evidence. [32]

According to the Article 242:

«2. Distribution, public demonstration or advertising of pornographic materials or objects among minors, or involvement of a minor in the circulation of pornographic products, committed achievements, who has reached the age of eighteen, [is prohibited]

3. Acts present in each part or the second of this article, committed:

b) using mass media or information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet;

shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of two to six years, with or without deprivation of liberty for a term of up to fifteen years.” [33]

The aforementioned charges were brought against Yulia Tsvetkova in connection with her drawings,depicting nude, body-positive females. Each drawing included a written caption stating that every woman has “hair on their bodies,” “menstruation,” “fat,” “wrinkles and gray hair,” “not perfect skin,” and “muscles.” All the headings end with the statement: “And it’s normal.” [34] These drawings were aimed to challenge the objectification of women’s bodies and to destigmatize female genitalia. [35]

As it was later discovered, the criminal case was formally opened by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur department on October 24, 2019. [36] The criminal complaint against Yulia Tsvetcova was filed by anti-LGBTQ activist Timur Bulatov. [37] Bulatov is also a leader of the organization “First Moral Russian Front.”. [38] Bulator claimed that pictures posted on “Vagina Monologues” were pornographic and “damag[ing] to the psychological and mental development of minors.” [39] Previously, Bulatov had also filed complaints against Yulia, accusing her of “promoting a homosexual lifestyle among minors” through her involvement with the aforementioned youth theater group, and activity on VK. [40]

On November 23, 2020, Yulia was placed under house arrest for violating her travel prohibition after her trip to Blagoveshchensk. [41] [Can you explain how someone can be arrested in a civil case? for traveling anywhere?]

During the same month, the police drew up an administrative protocol against Yulia due to her administration of two VK blogs called “Komsomolka. Intersectional Feminism” and “The Last Supper – LGBTIQ+ on Amur 18+”. In both groups the court found “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors”. On December 11, 2019, Yulia was fined 50 000 rubles (the equivalent of $538), [42] [43]despite the fact that both of the blogs included an 18+ age restriction in their descriptions as mandated by law.

According to Yulia’s lawyer, during the hearing she invoked Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation to refrain from testifying against herself. [44] However, Yulia said that Article 6.21 is “too vague” and anyone who publicly spoke out about non-traditional sexual orientation could be prosecuted under this law.

Yulia’s lawyer added that as evidence, the police had provided “operational data” provided by the Federal Security Service (FSB), according to which both accounts were administered by Yulia. However the police did not indicate how the FSB received this information and came to this conclusion. Furthermore, two examinations in the case that “confirmed” the position of the police, were made by experts whose education and qualifications were unknown. In addition, the experts were not warned of liability for giving a knowingly false conclusion. [45]Thus …

In December 2020, the Investigative Committee issued an expert’s evaluation of a number of paintings depicting vulvas from Yulia’s blog “Vagina Monologues” with fragments from an episode of the series “Sex and the City” (Season 5, Episode 1), which was shown on central television. [46] In that episode, Charlotte, one of the main characters, visits the studio of an artist who paints portraits of vaginas, posing for the artist and later organizing his exhibition. [47] Experts concluded that unlike the content of the blog “Vagina Monologues,” the episode of the series “does not contain any signs of pornographic information.” [48] The experts called the content of the blog “Vagina Monologues” “pornographic and some paintings may provoke negative reactions among Orthodox people, responsible parents as well as conscripts.” [49]

Interestingly, one of the experts who was appointed by the Investigative Committee, Tatyana Troitskaya, was convicted of attempting to export cultural property of the Russian Federation abroad and had no right to engage in expert activities for 3 years.[50]

On March 16, 2019, Yulia was released from house arrest, but remained under travel restrictions. [51] During tYulia’s four-month house arrest, she began experiencing health issues such as high blood pressure, eye problems, and a toothache. Over the course of a month, Yulia’s mother tried to get permission for Yulia to receive regular dental treatment, but it was denied by the judge. [52]

On July 10, 2020, Yulia was found guilty and fined 75 000 rubles (the equivalent of 807$) under the same Article. The charges were filed against her by the public officials for her social media post featuring her painting. The painting depicted two same-sex couples with children and on the painting was written “Family is where love is. Support LGBT+ families”. [53] She had published the drawing in support of a same-sex couple who had had to flee Russia with their adopted children because the authorities had threatened to take their children away from them. [54]

On July 7, 2020, a third administrative case was opened against Yulia under the same article for participation in an online flash mob called #давыберу (“yes, I would choose”). The flash mob was a reaction to a propaganda video by the Federal News Agency preceding the voting on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation, particularly regarding the definition of marriage as a “union between man and woman”. Currently, the video is blocked by YouTube as violating the service’s rules on the inadmissibility of discriminatory statements. [55]

In August 2020, Yulia’s attorney, Anna Plyisnina, successfully decreased the penalty for painting “Family is where love is. Support LGBT+ families.” from 75 to 50 thousand rubles. [56]

Throughout 2020, the criminal case against Yulia underwent five rounds of review between the investigators and prosecutor. Only in January 2021, the Prosecutor’s Office of Komsomolsk-on-Amur approved the case. [57]

On March 31, 2021, at a preliminary hearing, the Central District Court of Komsomolsk-on-Amur refused to admit the public defender and decided to close the proceedings. [58] The Court based its decision on the fact that “during the consideration of the case, the intimate aspects of the life of the participants could be announced” and “materials that the prosecution considered pornographic would be considered”. [59]

On May 1, 2021, Yulia started a hunger strike to demand that the trial not be delayed, to open the Court to the public, and to allow a public defender. [60] Julia said: “I demand that my trial be opened to the public, since the grounds for closing it are far-fetched. I demand to give me the opportunity to defend myself by all legal methods, and to admit the public defender into the process. And I demand not to delay my process. Schedule meetings more often than once a month. As you can see, I am not asking to acquit myself, or to cancel my recognition not to leave. I just ask you not to waste any more of my time on a farce called ‘Russian justice’. I ask the state, represented by the prosecutor’s office, judges and the FSB, to be honest with themselves and with me, and already make a decision. Looking openly into my eyes and the eyes of the public. Condemn if such is the order. Or justify, if you yourself do not see sense in the case.” [61]

 

On May 6, 2021, The Court ignored Yulia’s appeal and the next day Yulia interrupted her hunger strike saying: “My mother, doctors and attorneys asked me to end the hunger strike. And if my hatred of cowardice and meanness is strong, then my love for those who are next to me is still stronger. Lately, my loved ones have already experienced a lot of suffering, and I realized that it is not right to bring additional suffering with my own hands. Exactly how it is impossible to interfere with the work of the defenders. <…> If the strategy has proven to be inoperative, it needs to be changed.” [62]

On May 24, 2021, the Court, based on the expert’s evaluation of the Investigative Committee, blocked the public “Vagina Monologues”. [63]

On June 14, 2021, the Prosecutor requested three years and two months in a penal colony. [64]

On October 27, 2021, Yulia’s defense succeeded in overturning the decision of the Central District Court of Komsomolsk-on-Amur to shut down the “Vagina Monologues” blog. [65]

In January 2022, the Court was ordered to make the second expert’s examination. [66] The court found and appointed experts by itself. The new experts for the examination was the Center for Socio-cultural Expertise, which had participated, for example, in the examination of the Pussy Riot group. [67]

On June 3, 2022, the Ministry of Justice included Yulia in the register of media – foreign agents. [68] “Foreign agents” are subject to a strict control regime, including thorough annual audits, quarterly financial disclosures. and detailed semiannual reports on all activities. [69] They must mark all publications. posts, letters, and other material, as belonging to a foreign agent.

“foreign agents” are subject to a strict control regime, including extensive annual audits, quarterly financial reporting and voluminous reporting on all activities every half year. They must mark all publications, letters, and other material, whether in paper or electronic form, as belonging to a foreign agent. [70]

Finally, after three years and dozens of hearings, on July 15, 2022, Yulia Tsvetkova was acquitted by the Central District Court of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. [71] On November 22, 2022, an appeal court in Komsomolsk-on-Amur upheld the acquittal. [72] Reacting to this news. Amnesty International’s Russia Director, Natalia Zviagina, stated:

“The decision to uphold the acquittal of Yulia Tsvetkova is a rare example of justice in today’s Russia. The repressive architecture built by Vladimir Putin’s administration over the last two decades aims to stage absurd trials based on spurious accusations – it’s rare that anyone escapes the clutches of this system.

For three years, Yulia Tsvetkova has faced house arrest, travel restrictions, fines and reprisals simply for exercising her right to freedom of expression. Her inclusion on the infamous ‘foreign agents’ list has also deprived her of the opportunity to work with children and educational organizations. She can breathe slightly easier now that she no longer faces a prison term for promoting the rights of women and LGBTI people.” [73]

Immediately following the acquittal, Yulia, along with her mother and cat, departed from Russia. [74]

One might think, the positive outcome of this case was largely due to the wide international publicity. Amnesty International declared her a prisoner of conscience [75] and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam acquired her works. [76] More than 250,000 people signed the petition urging the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation to release Yulia and dismiss the charges against her. [77] In November 2020, BBC announced 100 Women (the ranking of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world), featuring Yulia Tsvetkova. [78] On April 16, 2020, Yulia received the international award “Index on Censorship” under the “Art” category. [79]

Unfortunately, on March 28, 2023, the Ninth Court of Cassation in Vladivostok overturned the acquittal and appeal ruling of the Khabarovsk Regional Court, the case was sent for a new trial to the first instance. [80] Yulia’s attorney, Alexander Pikhovkin, said that “At the hearings it was said that the pornographic nature of the paintings follows from the name of the blog.” [81]

The tendency in Russia to ban “Gay Propaganda”

While Tsvetkova took the opportunity to leave Russia, evidence suggests that her persecution started based on LGBTQ discrimination as her artworks are intended to promote acceptance and understanding of different genders and sexual orientations. After the Russian Federation passed a law banning “LGBT propaganda among minors» in 2013 [82], many people have been arrested and charged for expressing their views on LGBTQ rights. [83] Tsvetkova is only one example of how members of the LGBTQ community are treated unfairly in the Russian Federation and highlights the need for greater protection against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. [84]

The Russian agenda is moving in the opposite direction. On December 5, 2022, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, signed a law that expands restrictions on the promotion of “LGBT propaganda” and makes it illegal for everyone to promote same-sex relationships, suggesting that non-heterosexual orientations or sex change are “normal.” [85]

For violating the ban on “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”, fines range from 50,000 to 400,000 rubles for citizens, 100,000 to 800,000 for officials, and 800,000 to 5 million, or suspension of activities up to 90 daysfor legal entities.For violating the ban on promoting pedophilia incurs fines of 200,000 to 800,000 rubles for citizens, 400,000 to 2 million for officials, and 1 million to 10 million rubles or suspension of activities for up to 90 days for legal entities. Distributing information among minors that could influence them to change their gender incurs fines of 50 thousand to 200 thousand rubles for citizens, from 100 thousand to 400 thousand for officials, from 800 thousand to 4 million rubles or suspension of activities up to 90 days for legal entities. [86]

The new law that expands restrictions on the promotion of “LGBT propaganda” has already affected the cultural sector, including cinema, literature, and advertisement as well as led to a new wave of immigration of LGBTQ+ people out of Russia.

On December 28, 2022, the first case was filed under the new legislation against the publishing house “Popcorn Books”, which published the book “Summer in a Pioneer Tie” about the relationship between two teenage boys, a pioneer and his counselor, in a Soviet summer camp. [87] This book became popular and sold 200 thousand copies. The book caused a number of criticisms from conservative public figures [88] and after the administrative procedure started.

On November 30, 2024, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation classified the “International LGBT Social Movement” as an extremist organization. [89]

In other related news, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several Russian artists who spoke out against state policies were detained. In November, 2023, Aleksandra Skochikenko, an artist from St. Petersburg, was found guilty and jailed for seven years of “spreading false information about the Russian army” in March 2022 by replacing five price tags at a nearby supermarket with small pieces of paper invoking shoppers to stop the war and stand against propaganda. [90] Most recently, in March 2024, a number of visual artists across Russia had their studios and homes raided in connection with the criminal case of treason against the Russian activist. founder of Mediazona. co-founder of Pussy Riot, Pyotr Verzilov. [91]

About the Author:

Irina Strelkovskaya is a graduate from Master in Art Law program at Luiss Guido Carli University. She served as a legal intern at the Center’s Summer 2022 International Class.

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60. TrialWatch – Clooney Foundation For Justice, Russian Federation v. Yulia Tsvetkova, Human Rights Embassy, (May, 2021), https://humanrightsembassy.org/attachments/article/380
61. Persecution, Feminist Trasolcalities, (last visited Jan. 26, 2024), https://feminisms.co/tsvetkova/4
62. Natalia Glukhova, Artist Yulia Tsvetkova went on a hunger strike, Novaya Gazeta, (May 1, 2021), https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2021/05/01/khudozhnitsa-iuliia-tsvetkova-obiavila-golodovku
63. Persecution, Feminist Trasolcalities, (last visited Jan. 26, 2024), https://feminisms.co/tsvetkova/4
64. Id.
65. Id.
66. The prosecutor’s office appealed against the acquittal in the case of the artist and LGBT activist Yulia Tsvetkova, Current Time, (Jul. 22, 2022), https://www.currenttime.tv/a/prokuratura-obzhalovala-opravdatelnyy-prigovor-tsvetkovoy/31954949.html
67. Alla Konstantinova, Monologues of security forces. The court acquitted the artist Yulia Tsvetcova, who published drawings of vulvas, Mediazona (Jul. 15, 2022), https://zona.media/article/2022/07/15/tsvetkova
68. Daria Serenko, Artist Yulia Tsvetkova has been on trial for three years for “distributing pornography, Novaya Gazeta, (Feb. 5, 2022), https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2022/02/05/pravo-smotret-na-figuru-venery
69. Id.
70. The Ministry of Justice recognized Oleg Kashin, Alexey Pivovarov and Yulia Tsvetkova as “foreign agents”, Mediazona, (Jun. 3, 2022), https://zona.media/news/2022/06/03/ino
71. Russia’s Foreign Agent law: Violating human rights and attacking civil society, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, (last visited Feb. 28, 2024), https://www.nhc.no/content/uploads/2018/08/NHC_PolicyPaper_6_2014_Russiasforeignagentlaw.pdf
72. Id.
73. Russia: Court upholds acquittal of feminist artist on trial for ‘pornography’, Amnesty International, (Nov. 22, 2022), https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/11/russia-court-upholds-acquittal-of-feminist-artist-on-trial-for-pornography/
74. Id.
75. Id.
76. Olga Mamikonyan, Artist and activist Yulia Tsvetkova, recognized as a foreign agent, left Russia, Forbes Woman, (Nov. 25, 2022), https://www.forbes.ru/forbes-woman/481623-priznannaa-inoagentom-hudoznica-i-aktivistka-ulia-cvetkova-uehala-iz-rossii
77. Boris Kononenko, Russian Federation: LGBTI and women’s rights activist under arrest: Yulia Tsvetkova, Amnesty International, (Feb. 13, 2020), https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur46/1752/2020/en/
78. Sophia Kishkovsky, Russian artist Yulia Tsvetkova—who faced six years in prison on pornography charges for her drawings—is acquitted in court, The Art Newspaper, (July 15, 2022), https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/07/15/russian-feminist-artist-yulia-tsvetkovawho-faced-six-years-in-prison-for-her-drawingsis-acquitted-in-court
79. Olga Karchevskaya, Free Yulia Tsvetkova, Change.org, (last visited Apr. 2, 2024), https://www.change.org/p/free-yulia-tsvetkova?redirect=false
80. Alison Trowsdale, Ana-Lucia Gonzalez, BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?, BBC News, (Nov. 23, 2020), https://www.bbc.com/news/world-55042935
81. Index on Censorship, Wikipedia, (last visited Jan. 23, 2024), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_on_Censorship
82. The court overturned the acquittal of artist Yulia Tsvetkova, RBC, (Feb. 11, 2020),https://www.rbc.ru/society/28/03/2023/6422bab19a79474f6b12b297
83. Id.
84. Russia Anti-Gay Law Briefing, LGBT+ Conservatives, (August 15, 2013), https://www.lgbtconservatives.org.uk/news/russia-anti-gay-law-briefing
85. Russian journalist accused of anti-gay “propaganda” defeats charges, Amnesty International, (Feb. 24, 2014), https://web.archive.org/web/20180110175612/http://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/good-news/russian-journalist-accused-of-anti-gay-propaganda-defeats-charges
86. Russia Introduces “LGBT Propaganda” Law: Protecting family values and censoring culture, THE WHY, (Dec. 12, 2022), https://www.thewhy.dk/news/russia-introduces-lgbt-propaganda-law-protecting-family-values-and-censoring-culture
87. Ivana Kottasová, Anna Chernova, Putin signs expanded anti-LGBTQ laws in Russia, in latest crackdown on rights, CNN, (Dec. 5, 2022), https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/05/europe/russia-lgbtq-propaganda-law-signed-by-putin-intl/index.html
88. Id.
89. The first case of “LGBT propaganda” was opened in Russia for “Summer in a Pioneer Tie”, BBC, (Jan. 10, 2023), https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-64222707
90. Id.
91. Russia: First Convictions Under LGBT ‘Extremist’ Ruling, Human Rights Watch, (Feb. 15, 2024), https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/15/russia-first-convictions under-lgbt-extremist-ruling
92. Russian artist jailed for seven years over Ukraine war price tag protest, The guardian, (last visited Apr. 5, 2024), https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/16/russian-artist-aleksandra-skochilenko-protested-against-ukraine-war-jailed
93. Police Raid, Detain Artists and Activists Across Russia, The Moscow Times, (Mar. 12, 2024),https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/03/12/police-raid-detain-artists-and-activists-across-russia-a84419

Additional Reading:

1. Lucy Martirosyan, Explainer: What does new ‘gay propaganda’ law mean for LGBTIQ+ Russians?, openDemocracy (Nov. 24, 2022), https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/russia-gay-propaganda-law-amendments-explainer/
2. No Support: Russia’s “Gay Propaganda” Law Imperils LGBT Youth, Human Rights Watch (Dec. 11, 2018), https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/12/no-support/russias-gay-propaganda-law-imperils-lgbt-youth
3. Promotion of non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, gender reassignment, ConsultantPlus, (last visited Jan. 23, 2023), http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_34661/d4344568bd586d541d39273855ba64ba9d18e84a/
4. Russia: Activist Risks Acquittal Being Overturned, Amnesty International UK, (last visited Jan. 23, 2023), https://www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actions/activist-risks-acquittal-being-overturned
5. Current Time, Russian LGBT Activist Faces Prison Time Over Social-Media Pages, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, (Dec. 25, 2019), https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-lgbt-activist-trial/30344232.html