A Russian court labeled LGBTQ+ group Coming Out extremist, escalating crackdowns since Ukraine invasion.

A Russian court has designated the LGBTQ+ rights group Coming Out as extremist, the first such ruling since a 2023 Supreme Court decision labeling the “international LGBT movement” as extremist. The St. Petersburg City Court made the decision in a closed-door hearing, with no public details released. Coming Out, now based abroad, said it will continue offering remote legal and psychological support to LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia and beyond, despite increased risks to activists and their families. The move follows a broader crackdown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including bans on LGBTQ+ media portrayals, gender-affirming care, and rainbow flag displays, along with police raids and criminal charges. Similar cases are pending against two other LGBTQ+ organizations.