A Russian man arrested for allegedly running a travel agency for gay customers was found dead in custody in Moscow, rights group OVD-Info reported Sunday, amid a crackdown on LGBTQ rights in Russia.
Just over a year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any LGBTQ activism in a ruling that designated “the international LGBT movement” as extremist.
The move exposed anyone in the community or connected to it to criminal prosecution and prison, ushering in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
The LGBTQ community in Russia has been under legal and public pressure for over a decade but especially since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in 2022.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has argued that the war is a proxy battle with the West, which he says aims to destroy Russia and its “traditional family values” by pushing for LGBTQ rights.
Persons:
Andrei Kotov —, —, ”, Kotov, Vladimir Putin
Organizations:
LGBT, Kremlin
Locations:
Moscow, Russia, Ukraine