Vadim Vaganov, an LGBTQ journalist with the queer media outlet “Parni+,” has been fined 100,000 rubles (approximately US$1,100) under the “LGBT propaganda” administrative article (Art. 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Vaganov himself reported this to OVD-Info.
The protocol was drawn up over a post in Vaganov’s Telegram channel “Khrenogubka,” dedicated to the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, and a photograph captioned “make love, not war.” Both posts were published on 17 May of this year.
As Vaganov explained on his Telegram channel, an expert commission of three people concluded that the posts contain “linguistic and psychological features of information” which they said promote queer relationships.
According to the experts, the publications persuade readers “of the attractiveness of gay relationships and form a positive image of people in gay relationships” and “are shaping a distorted idea of the social equivalence of ‘traditional’ and ‘non-traditional’ relationships.” They also claimed the posts contain “signs of a sociocultural threat to the security” of Russia.
The protocol was submitted to the justice of the peace for Court District No. 178 in Pushkinsky District, St Petersburg, on 17 July. The case was considered over two hearings.
Vadim Vaganov is an LGBTQ activist from St Petersburg, a participant in opposition and anti-war rallies, and a former candidate for municipal deputy. In November 2024, the Ministry of Justice added him to the list of “foreign agents.” In July this year, the activist reported that someone threw a stone with the inscription “foreign agent” through his window.
Asya Sokolova for OVD-Info
The adoption of the “LGBT propaganda” law marked not only widespread censorship but also intensified repression against LGBTQ people and the organisations that support them. With the designation of the “International LGBT Movement” as an “extremist organisation,” this pressure has increased once again.
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