Statement: On Russia’s designation of ILGA World as an “undesirable” organisation and associated risks

Russia’s designation of ILGA World as an “undesirable” organisation is aimed at isolating civil society and criminalising international solidarity. ILGA-Europe remains committed to supporting the Russian LGBTI movement under these severe restrictions.

Russian version below

Today, ILGA World released a statement confirming that Russian authorities have designated it an “undesirable” organisation. As a result of this designation, ILGA World is now treated as an illegal entity under Russian law, and people who engage with it are exposed to significant risks of surveillance, arrest, repression and criminal liability.

Such repressive designations are intended to criminalise solidarity and cut connections between organisations defending human rights and supporting communities, and networks of international support. They reflect the Russian government’s deep fear of civil society and sustained attempts to isolate activists and silence opposition. History has shown that these efforts do not succeed. Years of repression have failed to extinguish civil society or the LGBTI movement in Russia, and they will continue to fail.

For nearly 15 years, Russian LGBTI activists and organisations have shown courage, creativity and determination in the face of sustained repression. ILGA-Europe has stood alongside and supported them throughout all this time, and this commitment has not changed.

We shall continue to support and strengthen LGBTI communities, organisers, and groups working toward a better and freer Russia. As the situation becomes more dangerous, we have adapted our work, prioritising care and safety. We will continue to follow the lead of the Russian movement, offering solidarity and support in ways that are responsible, reliable, and meaningful.

At the same time, we acknowledge the inherent threats this designation creates for the broader ILGA family. We fully respect the individual security choices of activists who may be placed at risk due to their association with ILGA-Europe and ILGA World, and we encourage approaches that prioritise safety and discretion.

Repression seeks to make people feel isolated, intimidated, and silenced. It has not succeeded. Despite the years of repression, harassment and criminalisation, LGBTI communities and activists in Russia continue to exist, care for one another, and resist in ways that are often quiet, careful and courageous. Our solidarity is stronger than fear, and our shared struggle for dignity and freedom will continue beyond every attempt to suppress it.

Заявление: О признании ILGA World «нежелательной» организацией в России и сопутствующих рисках


Признание ILGA World “нежелательной” организацией в России — это очередная попытка усилить изоляцию гражданского общества и сделать международную солидарность уголовным преступлением. ILGA-Europe продолжает поддержку российского ЛГБТИ-движения в условиях жёстких ограничений.

Сегодня ILGA World опубликовала заявление о том, что российские власти внесли организацию в список «нежелательных» организаций. Это означает, что ILGA World рассматривается российским законодательством как незаконная структура, а любые формы взаимодействия с ней могут повлечь серьёзные последствия — от слежки до задержаний, репрессий и уголовного преследования.

Подобные репрессивные решения направлены на то, чтобы объявить солидарность преступлением и разорвать связи между правозащитными организациями, сообществами и международным кругом поддержки. Они отражают глубокий страх российских властей перед независимым гражданским обществом и их многолетнее стремление изолировать активист_ок и задавить любые формы несогласия. История не раз показывала: такие попытки не достигают своей цели. Годы репрессий не смогли уничтожить ни гражданское общество, ни ЛГБТИ-движение в России – и не смогут этого сделать и впредь.

Почти пятнадцать лет российские ЛГБТИ-активист_ки и организации работают в условиях нарастающего давления и репрессий, проявляя решимость, изобретательность и настойчивость. Все эти годы ILGA-Europe оставалась рядом и поддерживала их, и эта приверженность не меняется.

Мы продолжим поддерживать ЛГБТИ-сообщества, инициативы и группы, которые добиваются более справедливой и свободной России. С ростом рисков мы меняем подход к работе, всегда ставя на первое место безопасность и заботу о людях. Мы продолжаем опираться на инициативу и решения российского движения, оказывая поддержку так, чтобы она была надёжной, ответственной и действительно полезной.

В то же время мы понимаем угрозы, которые статус “нежелательной” организации создаёт для всей семьи ILGA. Мы уважаем личные решения активист_ок и организаций, которые могут оказаться в зоне риска по ассоциации с ILGA-Europe и ILGA World, и поддерживаем подходы, в которых приоритет — безопасность и защита.

Репрессии призваны изолировать, запугать и заставить молчать. Но это не удаётся. Несмотря на годы давления, преследований и криминализации, ЛГБТИ-сообщества и активистки в России продолжают существовать, заботиться друг о друге и сопротивляться — часто тихо, продуманно и стойко. Наша солидарность сильнее страха, и наша общая борьба за достоинство и свободу продолжится, несмотря на любые попытки её подавить.

Source

Photo by Vitali Adutskevich on Unsplash

See also

News

Joint Statement: Alarming escalation in repression of LGBTI+ activists and organisations in Türkiye

The undersigned European and national human rights organisations express deep concern at the December court ruling in Türkiye shutting down LGBTI+ youth organisation, Genç LGBTİ+, […]
read more
News

Statement: Alarming escalation in repression of LGBTI activists and organisations in Turkey

Europe’s leading LGBTI organisation, ILGA-Europe express deep concern at this week’s court ruling in Turkey to shut down the LGBTI youth organisation, Genç LGBTI, noting […]
read more
News

Open letter to EU: Safeguarding Civil Society

A coalition of civil society organisations sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Piotr Serafin expressing concerns about restrictive […]
read more
News

Statement: ILGA-Europe Condemns Escalating Repression of Civil Society in Kazakhstan

Call for Immediate Release of Detained Activists and an End to Arbitrary Persecution ILGA-Europe strongly condemns the escalating repression and intimidation of civil society in […]
read more
News

Joint statement welcoming judgement on Russia’s failure to protect the privacy of personal data

ILGA-Europe and the AIRE Centre welcome the judgement from the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Bazhenov and others v. Russia Last […]
read more
News

Russia failed to respond adequately to politician’s homophobic verbal assault, European Court finds

The European Court of Human Rights has found that Russia’s failure to respond adequately to homophobic verbal assault and physical threats by a politician against […]
read more
Blog

ACCEPT – Strength in solidarity and a call for change

The Romanian LGBTI organisation, ACCEPT plays an important role in co-hosting the ILGA-Europe conference this year. Co-president Teo Ion-Rotaru shares her insights into what the […]
read more
Blog

Meet our Annual Conference hosts: MozaiQ – The courage to grow the movement in Romania

As the ILGA-Europe annual conference approaches, we turn our focus to one of the local co-hosts, MozaiQ, an organisation that has played a crucial role […]
read more
News

Joint statement: Kazakhstan risks further affiliating with Russia after MP requested to ban a leading LGBTI human rights group as “extremist”.

The recent initiative of a Member of Parliament of Kazakhstan to designate as “extremist” and ban an LGBTI civil society organisation, violates Kazakhstan’s human rights […]
read more
News

Joint Statement welcoming European Court ruling that Russia’s trans parent’s foster-care termination violates family rights

In a judgement published yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights found that Russia violated the right to private and family life of a trans […]
read more
News

ILGA-Europe’s statement on the Russian Supreme Court banning ‘the International LGBT movement” as extremist

Today, Russia’s Supreme Court banned what it called the “international LGBT public movement” as extremist. The LGBTI movement’s activities within Russia were said to “incite […]
read more
News

Significant European Court judgments in two cases concerning violence against LGBTI people involving state agents

Two successful European Court cases brought against Russia underline state obligations to protect LGBTI community from violent counter demonstrators and general hate motivated violence.
read more
Podcast

The Frontline: Behind The Rainbow Map: Activism in the Lowest Ranking Countries

Every year since 2009, ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map has been ranking the 49 countries that make up Europe based on the legal and policy situations of […]
read more
News

Statement on today’s vote to ban legal gender recognition in Russia

ILGA-Europe issue this public statement to express our support to and solidarity with trans and gender diverse people in Russia in the light of the […]
read more
Blog

For good and bad: The trending impacts on LGBTI human rights in Europe and Central Asia

The most striking finding of ILGA-Europe’s Annual Review 2023 is a stark rise in the ferocity of anti-LGBTI hate and violence reported in Europe and Central Asia. But alongside this worrying trend, there are positive developments in areas such as legal gender recognition, public support, intersex human rights and civil society. Here are the key highlights.
read more
Podcast

The frontline: LGBTI People and the War in Ukraine

At ILGA-Europe we recognise that the war is not going to be a short-term situation for vulnerable people in Ukraine, Russia, neighbouring countries, and all […]
read more
Podcast

The Frontline: Being an LGBTI Activist Today

Joining us to talk about the reality of queer activism in the current context, the good sides and bad, are ILGA-Europe’s Programmes Director, Bjorn van […]
read more
Blog

How trans parents are better protected after European Court ruling

Recently, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of a trans woman in Russia who was denied access to her children because of her gender identity and transition. Read on to find out how this may benefit all trans and LGBTI parents in Europe.
read more
Press Release

LGBTI organisations welcome European Court judgement in favour of trans parental rights in Russia

Today, in a landmark judgement strongly welcomed by TGEU and ILGA-Europe, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favour of a woman in […]
read more
News

New legal barriers for civil society in Russia

For Russian LGBTI groups, along with the rest of the civil society in the country, 2021 started with the arrival of new barriers to their work.
read more
Case Law

V.D. v Russia

Asylum. Submitted jointly by ILGA-Europe, AIRE Centre, ICJ and UKLGIG.
read more
Blog

How you can help persecuted Russian LGBT+
activist, Yulia Tsvetkova

By the end of 2018, at the age of 25, Yulia Tsvetkova had already made some of herdreams come true: opening a theatre for kids, […]
read more
Case Law

Maxim Grigoryevich Lapunov against Russian Federation 

State violence against the LGBTI community.
read more
News

Istanbul Convention: We achieved a lot together and we will not stop there!

Nine European umbrella civil society organisations – including ILGA-Europe – have written to Thorbjorn Jagland (CoE Secretary General) on why the Istanbul Convention is still […]
read more
Case Law

Alekseyev and Others v. Russia​

Hate speech
read more
News

European Parliament backs call for civil society supports in the EU

This morning, 489 MEPs voted in favour of an instrument to support civil society organisations which promote democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights.  Over 500 […]
read more
Case Law

R.L. against Russia and P.O. against Russia

Restricted access to LGR
read more
News

Ban on LGBTI events in Ankara must be overturned

The ban on events organised by LGBTI organisations, as announced by the Ankara Governor’s Office last weekend (18-19 November 2017), is disturbing and a clear […]
read more
Case Law

X. v. Russia

Name change request by transgender woman
read more
Case Law

Y.P. v. Russia

LGR, civil status and birth certificate
read more