A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia was sentenced for promoting LGBT rights

The Cherkessk City Court delivered a guilty verdict in a case of LGBT* propaganda, sentencing a resident of Karachay-Cherkessia to 2.5 years in prison. 

According to the court, in April-May 2024, a resident of Karachay-Cherkessia participated in the activities of an LGBT* extremist organization by joining a group chat on a messenger app via an invitation link. The court believes the link was sent to him by the person who organized "the activities of this extremist organization" in Vladikavkaz. 

The court, in turn, deemed the Cherkessk resident a "supporter of a banned international social movement." Law enforcement officials found "signs of propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations" in his comments left in the chat, the joint press service of the courts of Karachay-Cherkessia reported today on Telegram.

The man was sentenced to 2.5 years in a general regime penal colony, with a six-month restriction of freedom, on charges of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in the activities of such an organization1. In addition, the convicted person has been banned from engaging in activities related to online publications for two years, the press service clarified.

The court press service did not name the convicted person in its statement. The information is redacted from the court file on the Cherkessk City Court website. The case was submitted to the court on August 22, and the verdict was announced today, December 8.

The " Caucasian Knot " also reported that in late September, the Cherkessk City Court found Anastasia Melnikova, a resident of the region, guilty of publicly displaying the symbols of an extremist organization , the "LGBT* Movement." She was sentenced to a fine of 1,000 rubles.

* the organization is included in the list of extremist ones.

**The activities of Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are prohibited in Russia.