In Orenburg, Russia, staff of the Pose gay club receive prison sentences in an 'LGBT extremism' case

The Central District Court of Orenburg has sentenced three staff members of the Pose club, who were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. This is the first criminal case of its kind in Russia following the designation of the “International LGBT Public Movement” as extremist.

According to the publication “Ostorozhno, Novosti”, the owner of the venue, Vyacheslav Khasanov, was sentenced to 7 years in a general regime penal colony (a type of Russian prison). Administrator Diana Kamilyanova received 6 years and 3 months, while art director Alexander Klimov was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison.

The court also imposed additional penalties: restriction of freedom for a period of 8 months to 1.5 years and a ban on working in the catering and entertainment sectors for 2 to 3 years after release. Furthermore, over one million rubles, which the court deemed as income from illegal activities, were confiscated from the venue’s owner. The defendants did not plead guilty. The verdict has not yet entered into legal force.