Russian authorities order sex-positive project Kinky Party to stop holding events

The organizers behind the Russian sex positivity project Kinky Party announced on Wednesday that they are suspending their events in Moscow after receiving a warning from the federal authorities.

“Despite the fact that our events have always been in compliance with the law and were aimed at creating a safe, respectful environment for free expression, we received a warning that no events related to the topic of sex will be permitted from now on,” read the announcement.

The team said it has canceled an event to celebrate the project’s eighth anniversary that was planned for February 17.

“At the moment, we don’t know whether the new rules are temporary or permanent,” the organizers said. “[...] We’ll return to you as soon as we think over some alternative ways to give you an atmosphere of celebration and freedom.”

However, they added, they will continue to hold events in Georgia.

According to the project’s site, a Kinky Party is a “sex-positive party with a theme, a dress code, great music, and a rich show.” Since 2016, the project says, it has been “helping people explore their boundaries, fantasies, and sexuality.”

The Russian Supreme Court’s ruling in November to ban the “international LGBT movement” has given rise to a crackdown not only against explicitly LGBTQ+ media and events but also against events even tangentially related to sex in general. A party with an “almost naked” dress code held by blogger and TV presenter Nastya Ivleeva in December was later declared by a Moscow court to have been aimed at promoting “non-traditional sexual relationships.”