News · Политика

Russia’s Senate approves law banning LGBT and gender transition ‘propaganda’

Members of Russia’s Senate (Federation Council, upper house of Parliament) have unanimously approved a package of laws banning LGBT and gender transition “propaganda”, per announcement during today’s meeting of the Senate.

The document stipulates administrative responsibility for “propaganda” of “non-traditional sexual relations”, paedophilia, and gender transition on the Internet as well as in media, books, movies, and commercials / advertisements. The new law expands on the already-existing “LGBT propaganda” law, which prohibited “propaganda” among minors; it is now prohibited among all ages. Additionally, according to the law, foreign citizens could be expelled from Russia for “LGBT propaganda”.

The lawmakers intend to fine individuals spreading “LGBT propaganda” to the tune of up to 400,000 rubles (€6,500). Government officials face fines of up to 800,000 rubles (€13,000), while legal entities may be hit with a fine of up to 5 mln rubles (€81,260).

The law also introduces fines for those who spread “information of non-traditional sexual relations or information that may cause children to want to change their gender”: up to 200,000 rubles (€3,250) for individuals, up to 400,000 (€6,500) for officials, and up to 4 mln (€65,000) for legal entities.

Russia’s State Duma (lower house of Parliament) previously passed this law in the third — final — reading. “This decision will protect our children, the future of the country, from the darkness disseminated by the US and European countries. We have our own traditions and values,” the State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin commented at the time.