Fast-Track Trial Begins in Russia to Declare Another LGBT Organization Extremist

A trial has begun in St. Petersburg, Russia, to designate the “Alliance of Heterosexuals and LGBT for Equality” as an extremist organization. The human rights project Perviy Otdel (First Department) reports that the judge is fast-tracking the case and has denied all motions filed by the defense. The next hearing will take place behind closed doors on June 23.

The Russian Ministry of Justice filed the lawsuit to ban the organization in late May 2026. According to LGBT rights lawyer Maxim Olenichev, the Ministry’s claims are primarily based on the organization running a Telegram channel, activists having received fines for “LGBT propaganda,” the absence of a “foreign agent” disclaimer on their social media, and the hosting of events on days commemorative for the LGBT community. The organization has been on Russia’s “foreign agent” registry since 2023.

“The court decided not even to imitate compliance with procedural rules and rejected all defense motions — to call experts, request additional evidence, and provide the text of the lawsuit without classified data. It is obvious that the trial will be swift,” Olenichev stated after the first hearing.

The “Alliance of Heterosexuals and LGBT for Equality” is the tenth LGBT initiative in Russia that authorities are attempting to label as an extremist organization through the courts. In the fall of 2023, the Russian Supreme Court designated the non-existent “International LGBT Public Movement” as extremist. Following this, the Ministry of Justice began filing lawsuits against specific initiatives operating in the country.

The Ministry of Justice has already won all nine of its previous lawsuits. In 2026, the following were declared extremist organizations in Russia: “Coming Out LGBT Group,” “Resource Center for LGBT,” “Moscow Community Center,” “Parni+,” “Irida,” “Callisto,” the “Russian LGBT Network” movement, “Center T,” and the “T9 NSK” initiative. Many of these organizations have already ceased operations or are working from abroad.

In addition to LGBT organizations, the “Omsk Civic Association” was also granted extremist status on June 6, 2026. Although it is not an LGBT group, its leader, Nikolai Rodkin, is an openly gay man who is a suspect in a criminal case regarding “LGBT extremism.”