* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Sixteen-year-old Maxim Neverov has filed an appeal against his fine for posting pictures of men hugging each other online
Maxim Neverov is a brave 16-year-old Russian schoolboy who has become an unlikely hero in the fight for acceptance and equality for LGBT+ people in Russia.
Last month, Maxim was summoned to the local police station in his hometown, Biysk, in the south of Russia. When he arrived there, he was detained. His “crime”? Posting images online of shirtless men hugging. Two weeks later, he was charged under Russia's so-called anti-gay “propaganda law” and fined 50,000 rubles ($740 – more than the average monthly salary in Russia). The law makes it illegal to write, say or do anything authorities consider to be “propaganda of non-traditional relationships” aimed at minors.
Instead of allowing himself to be intimidated by this state-sponsored homophobia, he is fighting back courageously. Through the help of the Russian LGBT Network, he is bringing his case to the attention of the global media, calling for worldwide solidarity and support through a massive petition hosted by the LGBT+ rights group All Out and filing a legal challenge to his conviction.
The law under which Maxim was convicted was passed by Russian lawmakers in 2013. Since then, this awful legislation continues to fuel human rights violations, hatred and violence against LGBT+ people across Russia. Pride marches have been banned, organisations have been prevented from operating, and sharing information on social media can result in fines.
Anything that the authorities arbitrarily decide “raises interest" in so-called “non-traditional relationships” can be included in the law, effectively giving the Russian government carte blanche to massively restrict civil society space for LGBT+ groups and individuals. Just two weeks ago, authorities used the law to arrest more than 20 LGBT+ activists in Russia’s second city St Petersburg as they protested against the authorities’ refusal to allow a Gay Pride parade.
The law has also provided justification to homophobic thugs and bullies, with a marked increase in anti-gay and anti-trans attacks since it passed. It is no surprise that the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe), a human rights organisation, ranks Russia as the second-least LGBT+ friendly nation in Europe.
That Russian authorities have now decided to use a law they claim is designed to protect children against a schoolboy is deeply ironic and unmasks their real intent: to create a hostile and legally precarious environment for LGBT+ people everywhere, to intimidate and bully the gay community and to sow fear, intolerance and hatred.
When it was passed, the law attracted considerable international attention and outrage. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that it breached European treaty rules, violated people’s right to freedom of expression and discriminated against LGBT+ people. Gay rights activists and their allies around the world stood in solidarity with Russian campaigners, shining a light on the abuses that were taking place and demanding change.
International coverage of the law and global advocacy to challenge it had started to wane – until Maxim took his brave stand. He has told the media he is “not scared” and has eloquently linked his legal fight to the wider struggle for human rights across Russia. His courage has re-ignited international condemnation of the country’s appalling track record on LGBT+ rights.
The world is watching as the Russian authorities persecute a 16-year-old boy.
Matt Beard is executive director of All Out, a global LGBT+ rights organisation.
