RUSSIA: Several LGBTQ groups under threat of being labeled extremist organizations
OVD/ HRWF (09.02.2026) – The Ministry of Justice has filed claims for qualifying the “Russian LGBT Network” and the “Exit” group as extremist organizations. The claim was filed in the St. Petersburg City Court.
It will be considered on 24 February.
The LGBT network is the largest interregional movement in Russia that protects the rights of LGBTQ+ people. It has been operating since 2006. The organization stressed that it is not the first time they have faced pressure from the authorities.
“Now we see an extreme point of pressure – an attempt to outlaw our activities to support and protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Russia.
We, as an organization working in almost every part of Russia, do not agree with this and we will defend our position in court,” according to the press release of the head of the “LGBT Network” council, Natalia Solovyova.
In November 2021, the “LGBT network” was included in the list of “foreign agents”.
The press service of the courts of St. Petersburg reported that there was also a lawsuit for recognizing the extremist organization LGBTQ+ of the “Exit” group. According to the website of the St. Petersburg City Court, this claim will be considered on 24 February.
The court press service specified that the hearings on both lawsuits will be held behind closed doors.”
The full staff of “Exit” left Russia back in 2022. An arrest warrant was issued against its former director Alexander Voronov in a criminal case of evasion of the duties of a foreign agent (Part 2 of Art. 330.1 of the Criminal Code).
On 3 February, the “First Department” found out that the Ministry of Justice demanded to recognize another organization that helped queer people – the Samara LGBT+ public organization “Irida” – as extremist. In November 2025, the corresponding claim was submitted to the Samara Regional Court but it is subject to the jurisdiction of another court to which it was transferred in January 2026 for consideration.
In 2024, the president of “Irida” Artem Fokin was searched in the case of an extremist community (Art. 282.1 of the Criminal Code). Two months later, he was added to the list of “terrorists and extremists”. Back in 2022, “Irida” herself was included in the register of “foreign agents”.
On 30 November 2023, the Supreme Court of Russia recognized the non-existent “International LGBT Public Movement” as an extremist organization. Based on this decision, Russians began to be persecuted because of the use of the rainbow as their flag, which is publicly regarded as the symbol of an extremist organization. A number of criminal cases against queer people, drag artists, employees and managers of bars, clubs and other businesses that the security forces associated with LGBTQ+ are also known and under threat.
