Diversity is a value, not a crime

A declaration of Novaya Gazeta Europe’s solidarity with the Russian LGBT community

Today, the Russian Supreme Court is expected to recognise the LGBT community as an “international extremist movement” following a motion filed by the Justice Ministry earlier this month. The very identity of millions of people will be categorised as a crime against the state. Those same people will face punitive legislation.

The extremist status will bring with it a ban on displaying LGBT symbols. The punishment for “involvement in the movement” will be fines and prison terms of six years, and for “leadership” of the movement, 10 years. The authorities have invented a unified “LGBT organisation” which simply doesn’t exist. Members of the LGBT community are members of society, just like anyone else. They live their lives, want to love and to be loved, and not to fear for their safety.

The persecution of LGBT people in Russia is on a par with the terror the world’s most repressive regimes unleash against their people. Russians are now being persecuted simply for who they are, as was the case in the totalitarian dictatorships of the 20th century.

In a society where the legal system can consider anything “extremist”, the opportunities for arbitrary rule are boundless.

The Novaya Europe editorial staff wishes to express its solidarity with LGBT people in Russia. We will continue to do everything in our power to make your voices heard.

People cannot be divided into model citizens and extremists. Diversity is a value, not a crime.

Dystopia is becoming a reality in Russia. We will never accept it.