Anti-Gay Laws in Conflict With Federal Legislation

In Russia the recently introduced regional laws on the so-called “promotion of homosexuality among minors” have been condemned by the human rights community. According to a report by Civil Rights Defenders partner, the Russian LGBT Network and the Moscow Helsinki Committee, they are also in conflict with the federal legislation.

“There are provisions in the international law and the Constitution of the Russian Federation, according to which the rights and freedoms of citizens can be restricted only when it is needed to protect the lives, health, and morality of other people,” said Igor Kochetkov, chairman of the Russian LGBT Network in the report.

According to the findings of the report “The Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in the Russian Federation”, regional lawmakers have given little notice to the opinion of human rights defenders and scholars.

The report also addresses the situation of LGBT people in Russia and contains information about cases of discrimination and hate crimes, and an overview of international mechanisms in the field.

The report is partly based on the information received from the hot-line that Civil Rights Defenders supports since 2010. The hotline provides legal assistance to LGBT people in cases of discrimination and support in legal or psychological matters.

Read the report in full: The Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People in the Russian Federation.