– Russia’s Supreme Court Bans “International LGBT Movement” As An “Extremist” Organization:
Russia has long faced widespread international condemnation for what outside countries have decried as a crackdown on sexual minorities. President Vladimir Putin has persisted in stressing that Russia must safeguard traditional family values, and that this means protecting children from the pervasive propaganda of the West which seeks to sexualize young people.
Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday in an official ruling designated what it called the “international LGBT public movement” as a banned “extremist” organization. The new ban is expected to take full effect by early next year – but some reports have said it is effective immediately – and while specifics haven’t been forthcoming, the label would clearly give state authorities much broader powers to go after activist groups.
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