A day after Russia's highest court banned the "International LGBT Public Movement" and labeled it an extremist group, two local news websites claimed late Friday, December 1, that police raided gay venues in the country.
Russia's LGBTQ population is understandably rattled by November 30's historic Supreme Court decision, which President Vladimir Putin is using to bolster his reputation as a champion of traditional moral values against the modern West. The LGBTQ community has already been subject to an expanding crackdown in recent years.
Targeted Raid or Just Typical Drug Bust?
At least three Moscow bars were targeted during the search operations, according to two independent Russian Telegram news sites via CNN. The sites involved are the Secret Bar, the Mono Bar, and the famous pop-up Hunters Party in Moscow.
The news sources said that police claimed to be carrying out regular drug operations. They reportedly took pictures of partygoers' passports.
"Eyewitnesses said that security forces entered the premises under the pretext of an anti-drug check and photographed visitors' passports. In the middle of the party, they stopped the music, and [the police] started entering the halls, one report said.
Central Station Club in St. Petersburg announced its closure on Friday. The club's managers cited the "new law" as the reason they were unable to let out the space anymore.
A police vehicle with lights flashing but no sirens is seen parked outside what seems to be one of the raid venues. At the location's entrance, there were at least two individuals who appeared to be police officers.
See Also : Russia Outlaws 'International LGBT Public Movement,' Labeling It as Extremist in Historic Ruling
In her Telegram channel, transgender activist and prominent Russian blogger Milana Petrova--who is no longer residing in the country--posted about the raids. She believes that the searches did not target nightclubs but rather private LGBTQ events.
"There were NO raids there yesterday. There were raids on individual LGBT parties for adults. There, people's passports were photographed without their will, apparently for further repression," Petrova wrote, as reported by CNN. "Let me remind you that the law came out the day before yesterday. Never in the history of the country have there been such cruel laws."
However, Alexey Khoroshy, who manages the Mono Bar, has disputed rumors that his establishment had been searched and said that the Moscow pop-up party was the only one that raided. "Yesterday was the only drug raid at Hunters Party. So, everything is calm as before - we are working! And remember that drugs are evil!" Khoroshy pointed out.
A second source informed CNN that the search of the Hunters Party pop-up was a typical narcotics bust.
Fear, however, was voiced by members of an online community associated with the Hunters Party. Some said it is now too risky and that no one will be at peace.
