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Russia’s Media Regulator Receives Authority To Block All LGBT Websites

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Russia's Media Regulator Receives Authority To Block All LGBT Websites

Over the past few days, the world has read more than a dozen cases reported against LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination. And yet another incident of the same has happened in Russia as the government takes action to violate human rights. 

Recently, the Russian government has authorized their media controller the authority to block websites that carry ‘LGBT propaganda.’ As per the ruling issued earlier on Monday, it is noticed that this action was even passed without a proper court order. 

As per the current circumstances, ‘information spreading non-traditional sexual relations and (or) discretions,’ websites that carry child pornography, information regarding suicide methods and illegal narcotic production, etc are on the grounds for blacklisting any websites in Russia. And according to the order signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, pedophilia and gender change are also added to the government’s new decree.

They Seek To Outlaw The Promotion Of LGBT Issues To Minor

Earlier this month, President Vladamir Putin signed amended legislation stating the expansion of state censorship which bans the portrayal of non-heterosexual identities and relationships between Russians belonging to any age group.

People who were already fined under Putin’s previous anti-LGBT law can be jailed according to the new bills that the lawmakers have outlined lately. With such a bill, they aim to ban LGBT propaganda at minors. 

According to the newly drafted legislation, continuous or repeated offers can be sentenced to up to five years in prison for violating rules. And in April, Roskomnadzor, the Russian federal media regulator, blocked the women’s online magazine Wonderzine as it posted the content that supports the LGBT community. This action was brought right after the government’s youth policy agency produced a complaint. 

The right campaigners believe that such a decision by the Russian government can pave the way to increased street violence. Natalia Soloviova, LGBT Network chairwoman said that such new laws can increase the number of hate crimes and could even make a situation where no one could talk openly or positively about the LGBTQ+ community.

Boris Konakov, an LGBTQ+ activist, expressed that the issue has created a difficult situation within the country and their community. At the same time, Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein commended that the latest bill is passed in order to restrict the advertising of things that aren’t heterosexual and not on denying the community and their identity.

He even added the bill is not an act of censorship or not a ban on LGBT as a phenomenon. Also, they state that they haven’t put a ban on mentioning the community, rather they only wanted to restrict the propaganda including positive promotion and praise which are normal and at times better than traditional sexual relationships. 

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Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated that it is their duty to protect the citizens and Russia from indignity and extinction and even from the darkness spread by the United States and other European states.

He even added that the law will also include two more readings from Russian Lawmakers before it reaches President Vladimir Putin for his approval. Currently, Russia has taken strict perspectives against western values and objectives in the midst of its attack on Ukraine.     

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