In Chita, a woman was imprisoned for working in a queer club. She was found guilty of “extremist” activities

A court in Chita sentenced 23-year-old local resident Tatyana Zorina to four years in prison, finding her guilty of organizing the activities of an “extremist organization” (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). This was reported by the Chita.ru publication with reference to a source.

Zorina’s arrest became known in October 2024. The investigation alleged that she organized “the operation of an entertainment establishment with the aim of promoting the ideology of an international public association prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation and increasing its number.”

Chita.ru reported that we are talking about the Tochka club on Petrovsko-Zavodskaya Street, which changed its name to Jackson. The publication called the establishment a queer club. On October 26, 2024, the police conducted a raid at the club, in which representatives of the pro-government movement “Russian Community” took part. The raid took place while the club was hosting a drag show. It was noted that the club operated non-publicly: it was possible to get into it only by calling and going through face control.

The Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Trans-Baikal Territory reported that they “stopped the work of a club that promoted an ideology prohibited in the country.”

Acquaintances of Tatyana Zorina said that at first she worked in the establishment as a DJ, and then began to manage the club.

• The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in November 2023 declared the “international LGBT movement” (which does not exist) “extremist”, banning its activities in Russia. After this, raids on queer clubs began in different regions. The first criminal case about the “extremist LGBT movement” became known in March 2024, when the owner of the Pose club, where travesty artists performed, was arrested in Orenburg.