Over the weekend, Russian police conducted raids on several bars and nightclubs in Moscow as part of the government's efforts to curb what they refer to as 'LGBTQ+ propaganda.' Smartphones, laptops, and video cameras were confiscated during the raids, and clubgoers were subjected to document inspections by law enforcement officers, according to reports from Russia's Tass news agency.
The crackdown comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling in Russia last year that deemed the 'LGBTQ+ movement' as an 'extremist organization.' This decision is a culmination of a long-standing suppression of LGBTQ+ rights in the country, with President Vladimir Putin championing 'traditional family values' throughout his tenure.
