The Russian LGBT Network spent 20 years protecting queer people. Now, branded ‘extremist,’ it’s dissolving itself to protect them.

Source: Russian LGBT Network

The Russian LGBT Network, a public movement, announced that it is shutting down, according to a statement its representatives posted on Telegram. The organization said its “extremist” designation made it impossible to continue operating publicly.

“We made this decision after a serious risk assessment,” the statement said. “Continuing our public work could endanger those who took part in the organization’s activities, supported it, or received help from it. We can’t control the repressive environment, but we can do everything possible to avoid creating additional risks for people. People’s safety comes first.”

The organization said that, as of now, it no longer conducts public activity: it no longer has representatives, and its activists’ work is ceasing. Its social media accounts will be deleted soon.

The Russian LGBT Network is an interregional public movement focused on protecting the rights of queer people and helping them adapt socially. The organization has operated since 2006.

The St. Petersburg City Court granted a lawsuit filed by Russia’s Justice Ministry in late April 2026, declaring the organization “extremist” and banning its activities in Russia. The court heard the case behind closed doors, with no access for the press or the public. The Justice Ministry had already designated the Russian LGBT Network and its co-founder, Igor Kochetkov, as “foreign agents” in 2021.

Russia’s Supreme Court also declared the nonexistent “International LGBT Movement” an “extremist organization” in 2023. Since then, Russian authorities have persecuted LGBTQ+ organizations and regularly branded them “extremists.”

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The Russian LGBT Network spent 20 years protecting queer people. Now, branded ‘extremist,’ it’s dissolving itself to protect them.

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The Russian LGBT Network spent 20 years protecting queer people. Now, branded ‘extremist,’ it’s dissolving itself to protect them.

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