Russian officials have fined nightclub revellers for ‘looking too gay’ in their choice of outfits.
At least seven people received the penalties following a police raid on a nightclub in Tula in February, according to court documents seen by independent Russian media outlet Verstka.
Video footage of the operation shows men in military-style uniforms and helmets detain at least eight people, the Telegraph reports.
They were reportedly hit with charges of ‘trying to arouse interest in non-traditional sexual relations’, which has been outlawed in Russia for a decade.
Usually this charge is directed at those publishing pro-LGBT material – not at those wearing ‘unmanly’ clothing.
The detainees reportedly wore clothing that police suspected promoted ‘non-traditional sexual relations’, according to Verstka.
One man reportedly wore ‘crosses of black tape glued to his nipples’ and a ‘women’s style corset’ on his ‘naked’ body, while another with ‘bright orange’ hair and ‘red tattoos on his face’ wore ‘pink socks’ as well as ‘an unbuttoned kimono’.
The arrests come as the Kremlin further pushes its anti-LGBT crackdown in its bid to promote ‘traditional values’, which includes a ban on ‘propaganda promoting a child-free lifestyle’.
Video footage of the operation shows men in military-style uniforms and helmets detain at least eight people
The detainees reportedly wore clothing that police suspected promoted ‘non-traditional sexual relations’, according to outlet Verstka
Another description of those detained in the raid said that there was a man who wore a crop top, black leather shorts and fishnet tights.
Judges ruled that the detainees’ clothing was promoting a ‘non-traditional’ sexual lifestyle and their appearance was ‘inconsistent with the image of a man with traditional sexual orientation’, Verstka reports.
While eight people were detained, only seven received a fine – the eight, a male bartender, avoided a fine after arguing that he was goth, saying that this was the reason he had eyebrow piercings, turquoise-dyed hair and wore a black T-shirt that was reportedly rolled up to his chest.
Not all of the court’s decisions have been made public, according to Verstka, but the outlet reported that two detainees received £350 (50,000 roubles) fines.
This is not the only time Russian authorities arrested partygoers. In November, police reportedly raided several bars and nightclubs in Moscow under the laws criminalising ‘LGBT propaganda’.
The decade-old legislation under which they were punished is often called Russia’s ‘anti-gay law’.
Initially, it only banned the spreading of ‘LGBT propaganda’ among minors, but was extended in 2022 to include the promotion of ‘non-traditional lifestyles’.
As part of his ‘traditional’ push, Russian president Vladimir Putin (pictured) even signed a decree last August that makes it easier for foreigners to apply for residency permits if they share Russia’s traditional values
The law has been used to punish people for ‘offences’ from sharing rainbow flags on social media to publicly admitting engaging in sexual activity with minors.
In 2024, a minimum of 131 cases of ‘LGBT propaganda’ were sent to court in Russia, according to Verstka.
Of those, at least 71 people received fines ranging from £350 (50,000 roubles) to £1,400 (200,000 roubles).
As part of his ‘traditional’ push, Russian president Vladimir Putin even signed a decree last August that makes it easier for foreigners to apply for residency permits if they share Russia’s traditional values.
