"LGBTQ propaganda"

Moscow: raids on several gay bars

Symbolic image(Bild: lucky pics)

Moscow police raided at least three nightclubs popular with homosexuals on Saturday night. The raids were "measures to combat LGBTQ propaganda", it was reported.

Videos published online from the nightclub "Arma" showed patrons sitting on the dance floor and police officers walking through the room and giving orders. Another video shows people being led out of the popular gay club "Mono" in the center of Moscow with their hands up, in front of which a police car was parked. According to the Interior Ministry, the police also searched a nightclub on Skladochnaya Street, which is said to have "propagated the ideology of the banned LGBT movement".

The manager of a travel agency is said to have been detained. He is accused of preparing "a trip to Egypt for supporters of non-traditional sexual values over the New Year holidays". This was reported by the TASS news agency on Saturday, citing investigators.

High court has issued LGBTQ ban
The raids came a year after Russia's Supreme Court issued a ban against the "international LGBTQ movement" for "extremism" and banned its activities on Russian territory. The abbreviation LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. Extremist activities are punishable by long prison sentences.