On November 8, 2021 Russian LGBT Network* was added to the list of unregistered social movements fulfilling the function of foreign agents.

We would like to share the official position of Russian LGBT Network’s Council with regards to the event that has transpired:

“Our interregional social movement will continue its work ensuring equal rights and respect for human dignity no matter a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity.

Reasons as to why our Movement has been added to the list of foreign agents are unknown to us, and we are planning on finding out the cause and appealing the decision.

Same as many other human rights organizations in Russia, LGBT Network is facing pressure and persecution. We have not prepared in advance, as it is next to impossible to prepare for something like that. However, in the very first hours after the news had become known we received a lot of support as well as offers of legal assistance from other human rights organizations.  

We cannot make assumptions as far as consequences of this decision go, but we know one thing for sure: this situation will present some difficulties, yet it will certainly not put an end to the work of LGBTQ+ activists in Russia.

Russian LGBT Network calls on all people – despite their identity and ‘status’ – to support our work.

Russian LGBT Network is an interregional social movement that has been working for over 15 years to build a society where there would be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Russian LGBT Network as a movement is represented by activists from all federal districts of Russia as its members”.

*Russian LGBT Network is recognized as a foreign agent by the Russian Ministry of Justice– now we have to specify that.