Russian police detain activists at gay flashmob in Moscow

A few headlines surfaced this week from a number of small news organizations, but so far not much news is getting to the mainstream media. This makes me wonder if the plight of LGBT Russians is no longer on the radar of the world’s media.

The time leading up to the Winter Olympics brought a lot of attention on Russian’s recent anti-gay laws, but in the last year other world events have captured the media’s attention. Yet those inside Russia are still at risk and now with the world’s back turned away, it could get worse.

Today Reuters reported that according to an organizer of a flashmob Russian police detained 17 protesters on Sunday when they gathered in central Moscow to release colorful balloons to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB). The protesters who’d assembled on a square near a Moscow theatre failed to release the balloons as they were very quickly shoved onto a bus by crowd control police.

According to a Reuters report, one of the organisers, Andrei Obolensky, said later that he and others were still detained at a police station, and only one of them had so far been released.

Since Vladimir Putin began is third consecutive term in 2012 he shifted to a more conservative agenda, putting Russia’s LGBT community under pressure. In 2013 a law against gay “propaganda” was passed and has allowed authorities to censor any LGBT information as it might be seen and “indoctrinate” Russian youth. While the law sparked condemnation from the West, including a visit from Stephen Fry, due to the influence of the Russian Orthodox church and many Russian’s own negative feelings towards gays, the law has continued with little challenge.

Reuters also reported that a similar flashmob took place in St. Petersburg, this one undisturbed in Russia’s second city despite the presence of police.

Buzzfeed reported this week that LGBT activist Konstantin Golava was summoned by Russian authorities for questioning on extremism charges related to a social media comment in 2014 in which Golava stated his opposition to Putin’s annexation of Crimea.

With LGBT activists unable to participate in peaceful protests, it’s clear Russia will be continuing to suppress LGBT rights. Today’s story is similar in tone to many other attacks on LGBT rights activists, yet not only do events like this get little coverage outside Russia but also in Russia where everyday Russians hear little in their own news, most of which is controlled by the government.

These few stories getting out to the West illustrate a bad environment for LGBT Russians, yet western politicians are still focused on sanctions related to the situation in Ukraine. With little appetite to push these issues and lack of media coverage, LGBT Russians may feel abandoned.