Russia's LGBTQ+ Community Faces Crackdown as Supreme Court Labels Movement 'Extremist'

Russian security forces raided gay bars and clubs in Moscow, documenting customers' identities, just two days after the country's top court declared the LGBTQ+ movement extremist. The raids, conducted under the pretext of a drug raid, follow a decade-long crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia, including the banning of same-sex marriage and gender transition care. Activists argue that the ruling allows authorities to crack down on any individuals or groups associated with the LGBTQ+ movement, and several LGBTQ+ venues have already closed as a result. Critics view the ruling as a diversionary tactic by the government to deflect attention from other issues in the country.