Rudolph Angler Russian police raided bars and nightclubs in Moscow on Saturday, targeting venues linked to “LGBTQ+ propaganda,” state media reported. Officers confiscated smartphones, laptops, and cameras, while inspecting documents of clubgoers, according to Russia’s Tass news agency.
The raids coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s Supreme Court banning the “LGBTQ+ movement” as an “extremist organisation.” The ruling marked another step in the government’s decades-long crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights under President Vladimir Putin, who emphasizes “traditional family values.”
Widening Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Rights
Videos on social media showed police ordering partygoers to lie on the floor during a raid at Moscow’s Arma nightclub. Mono bar was also targeted, though its management, in a Telegram post, refrained from directly referencing police actions, writing, “We live in such times, but life must go on.”
Authorities also detained the head of “Men Travel” tour agency, accusing him of organizing trips for individuals with “non-traditional sexual values.” The incident reflects fears of unchecked crackdowns under laws targeting LGBTQ+ groups or individuals.
Recent legislation adds further pressure, including bans on Russian adoptions by citizens of countries permitting gender-affirming care. Putin also signed a law outlawing material discouraging people from having children, reinforcing his push for “traditional values.”