Russian police raided multiple bars and nightclubs in Moscow on Saturday, targeting venues linked to the LGBTQ+ community. Officers seized smartphones, laptops, and video cameras and inspected documents of patrons, according to state media reports.
The raids coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s Supreme Court decision to ban the “LGBTQ+ movement” as an “extremist organization.” This ruling, part of a broader crackdown, reflects President Vladimir Putin’s push for “traditional family values.”
Social media footage showed partygoers at Moscow’s Arma nightclub being ordered to lie on the floor during the raid. The Mono bar was also targeted, with its management later posting on Telegram, “We live in such times, but life must go on.”
Broader Anti-LGBTQ+ Measures Intensify
Police also detained the head of the “Men Travel” tour agency under anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Authorities alleged the 48-year-old was planning a trip for individuals supporting “non-traditional sexual values.”
Activists warn that labeling the LGBTQ+ movement as “extremist,” despite its lack of formal organization, gives authorities broad power to target individuals or groups.
Recent laws have heightened pressure on those seen as opposing traditional values. On November 23, Putin signed a bill banning Russian child adoptions by citizens of countries where gender-affirming care is legal. Another law outlaws materials discouraging people from having children.
The raids and legislative actions underline the Kremlin’s intensified crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights and dissenting social perspectives.