Russia’s Ministry of Justice names journalist as first member of fictional “international LGBT public movement”

The Russian Ministry of Justice has officially identified a participant in what it refers to as the “international LGBT public movement” — journalist Vadim Vaganov. Vaganov is affiliated with the Parni Plus online publication and was formerly a member of the youth wing of the social-liberal Yabloko party, writes the human rights project Perviy Otdel (lit. “Department One”). Until now, the authorities had not named any individuals as “members” of the nonexistent “movement,” which is nonetheless officially banned in Russia.

The Ministry’s claim that Vaganov is considered an “activist of the international LGBT public movement” came to light in a legal filing related to his appeal against being labeled a “foreign agent”:

“Vaganov V.A. is an activist of the international LGBT public movement (by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on November 30, 2023, included in the list of public associations and religious organizations whose activities are banned by a final court ruling),” the document states.

According to lawyer Maksim Olenichev, this is the first time Russian authorities have publicly named a specific individual allegedly involved in the activities of the “international LGBT public movement.” In its ruling labeling the “movement” as extremist, the Supreme Court did not specify any members by name. The document distributed to the media at the time merely said that “281 individuals were identified as participants in the movement’s activities.”