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Study: Anti-LGBT Crimes in Russia Double Since 'Gay Propaganda' Law

Russia hate crimes

Perpetrators seem to perceive government support for their actions, says an activist.

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Hate crimes against LGBT people in Russia have doubled since the nation's adoption of its "gay propaganda" law in 2013, according to a new study.

The study, released Tuesday by the Center for Independent Social Research in St. Petersburg, analyzed 250 crimes, 200 of which were murders, Reuters reports. The Reuters article did not provide annual figures for crimes, simply saying they had doubled. It did note that the number of sentences for anti-LGBT hate crimes had also increased, to 65 in 2015 from 18 in 2010. Most of the victims were gay men.

Researchers and activists cited the 2013 law as a definite factor in the rise in hate crimes. The 2013 law bans any positive mention of LGBT issues in venues accessible to minors and has been used against Pride parades and other events.

Because of the law, those hostile to LGBT people "have become more aggressive and less fearful," Russian LGBT Network board member Svetlana Zakharova told Reuters. "It seems to them that, to some extent, the government supports their actions. Many perpetrators openly talk about their crimes as noble deeds." Her group has noted the same trend as the center's study, she said.

Researchers based the report on court records and information from RosPravosudie, a judicial watchdog group. They noted that there are likely many more anti-LGBT crimes than reflected in the study, as some are never reported to police.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.