Suggestions in Russian parliament: criminal liability for ‘repeated LGBT propaganda’, ban on numerous video games

Yana Lantratova, a member of Russia’s State Duma, has suggested that video games which in her opinion, “promote” homosexuality, pornography, violence and gore, should be banned, RIA Novosti reports.

In an interview for Gazeta.ru, she said that the list of games that should be banned includes all titles of the Assassin's Creed franchise, two games of The Last of Us series, two parts of Dragon Age, as well as such series as Borderlands, Divinity: Original Sin, Life Is Strange, Fallout, Apex Legends, RimWorld, Overwatch and more.

“All these games have gay people, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals in them,” Lantratova said.

According to the MP, in The Sims 3, “the player has to start a family and has a pretty wide choice of partners, including the option to kiss a same-sex friend, ask them out on a date, make love with them, and even start a family and have children.”

At the same time, Lantratova stressed that no one would forbid children to play as a character of the opposite sex. “We are talking about the promotion of non-traditional relationships, when they are presented as something normal, something attractive,” she said.

It also became known to RIA Novosti that, as part of the amendments, it is proposed to introduce criminal punishment for the repeated dissemination of “LGBT propaganda.” Violators may face up to one year in prison.

Repeated distribution of “LGBT propaganda” using the media will be punishable by up to two years in prison, repeated distribution of “LGBT propaganda” among minors will result in up to three years in prison, repeated promotion of pedophilia would mean up to two years, repeated promotion of pedophilia using the media is worth up to five years in prison, according to the news agency.

Russia’s parliament unanimously approved the first reading of the bill banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” in late October. The document proposes to ban the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations or preferences” among Russians of all ages. It also expands the list of content banned for children. It includes the “propaganda and demonstration of non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences, as well as information that may cause children to want to change their gender”.

The lawmakers offer to fine individuals spreading “LGBT propaganda” to the tune of up to 400,000 rubles (€6,500). Government officials face fines of up to 800,000 rubles (€13,000), while legal entities may be hit with a fine of up to 5 mln rubles (€81,260)

The bill also introduces fines for those who spread “information of non-traditional sexual relations or information that may cause children to want to change their gender”: up to 200,000 rubles (€3,250) for individuals, up to 400,000 (€6,500) for officials, and up to 4 mln (€65,000) for legal entities.