For the first time in Russia, an activist has been placed on a wanted list in connection with an LGBT case
Russian law enforcement authorities have for the first time issued a federal warrant for a man linked to the so-called case of “participation in the international LGBT movement,” which has previously been designated as “extremist” in Russia. The individual in question is activist Vadim Vaganov, against whom, according to him, criminal proceedings have already been initiated amid numerous administrative cases and fines, Russian media report.
In Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has issued a warrant for the arrest of activist Vadim Vaganov, a former member of the St. Petersburg branch of the Yabloko party and an openly gay man, whom Russian media describe as the first defendant in a criminal case linked to the so-called “international LGBT public movement,” which is recognized in the Russian Federation as an “extremist organization.”
According to the Russian publication Astra, information about the wanted notice appeared in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ federal database, after which Vaganov himself stated that he does not know the exact wording of the charges, but he assumes that the case may relate either to the “foreign agent” law or to “extremism” laws, which are increasingly being applied to activists in Russia. “As of today, I have five administrative fines for failing to fulfill ‘foreign agent obligations’ and six for ‘LGBT propaganda.’ And now a criminal case has been added,” Vaganov said, describing his situation.
The article also notes that as early as 2024, he was added to the “foreign agent” registry, and by 2025, the Russian Ministry of Justice had explicitly identified him for the first time as a “participant in the international LGBT civil society movement,” which subsequently became the basis for a new phase of persecution.
Russian authorities had previously officially designated the so-called “international LGBT movement” as extremist, which effectively allowed them to open cases against people for any activity related to this topic, including public statements and participation in human rights initiatives.
Experts and human rights defenders have repeatedly warned that such laws in Russia could be used to expand the persecution of civil society activists, journalists, and members of the LGBT community; however, in Moscow, such charges are officially linked to the fight against “extremism.”
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