Individuals who violate the law can be fined up to £100, while the penalty for organisations can be up to £20,000. Foreigners found to be promoting gay equality in violation of the law will be arrested and immediately deported.
Gay activists were attacked and then arrested outside Russia’s parliament as lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill that will ban “gay propaganda” aimed at under-18s. The Duma passed the bill, which outlaws the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”, by 436 votes to zero, with one abstention.
The bill will now become law if it is approved by Russia’s upper house of parliament and then signed by President Vladimir Putin, who has already expressed his support for it. The bill is the most criticised element of a series of measures that activists say makes a difficult situation for gay people in Russia even worse. Individuals who violate the law can be fined up to £100, while the penalty for organisations can be up to £20,000. Foreigners found to be promoting gay equality in violation of the law will be arrested and immediately deported.
More than 20 of the protesters who gathered outside parliament were attacked by extremist Orthodox Christians and pelted with eggs, stinging nettles and urine as they attempted to stage a “kissing protest”.
The law is modelled on regional legislation that outlaws “homosexual propaganda” in a number of Russian regions. Faced with criticism that the terminology of the law was so vague that it could be interpreted in many different ways, the organisers clarified the language before sending it back to parliament for its second and third readings.
The document now states that “propaganda” of gay relationships includes, “spreading information aimed at forming non- traditional sexual behaviour among children, suggesting this behaviour is attractive and making a false statement about the socially equal nature of traditional and non-traditional relationships”. >>MORE<<
(Reuters) - Germany has condemned a new Russian law banning homosexual “propaganda”, with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle – himself gay – saying on Wednesday that attempts to stigmatize same-sex relationships had no place in a democracy.
The strong words from Berlin reflect growing unease with Moscow’s record on human rights and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s willingness to openly criticize it, despite Russia’s vital importance as an energy exporter.
Critics say the new bill, which bans the spreading of “propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations” to minors and sets fines, will in effect ban gay rights rallies and could be used to prosecute anyone actively supporting them.
“Foreign Minister Westerwelle is very worried about this law,” his ministry said in a statement.
“The deliberate stigmatization of same sex relations and the threat of prosecution has no place in a society which claims to be modern and democratic.”
Foreigners found to have broken the new law can be deported from Russia, in addition to being fined up to 100,000 roubles or held for up to 15 days.
Merkel’s spokesman said the law contradicted the spirit of Russia’s obligations under human rights conventions. >>MORE<<
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