Misha T is a Russian LGBTIQ+ activist; he spends a lot of time and energy to help unite the LGBTIQ+ community in Russia.
But he's been repeatedly threatened and even attacked, both psychologically and physically.
“I was beaten twice. Once, when I was still young, my friends and I were attending a gay club, and a group of guys were there waiting for people who walk in or leave the club.
"The second time was in 2012 when I was invited to a party, then people started to ask me why I didn’t have a girlfriend, and after I answered they just beat me up. That time I went to the police who just hushed up the case, they decided not to proceed with an investigation.”
LGBT activists were attacked during an action 'Day of Kisses' against a homophobic bill in Moscow Source: Flickr/Roma Yandolin CC BY 2.0
It comes seven years after Russia's 'gay propaganda law' was introduced in 2013, making it illegal to promote non-traditional sexual relations among those under 18; citizens, organisations and businesses could be fined for it.
Amnesty noted that since then, constitutional amendments redefined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, reinforcing, it said "existing limitations on same-sex marriage and ensuing restrictions, including adoption by same-sex couples.”
LGBTIQ+ life in Russia
Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1993, but anti-gay feelings remain.
Misha T says he also experienced the disclosure of his personal information.
“My information was shared on the so-called "spread list" of the homophobic site "Saw" that was created in Russia about two years ago and targets a number of LGBT activists, including me.
"We filed our complaints, wrote to the Investigative Committee, the Prosecutor General's Office - everywhere we were denied verification."
LGBTIQ+ rights activists march in St Petersburg during a rally against a controversial law in the city that activists see as violating their rights. Source: Getty Images
The state does not want to protect us in any way.
Public disclosure of a personal information of LGBTIQ + people is a big problem because they often try to hide their homosexuality from other people, including family and employers.
According to rights organisation, Russian LGBT Network, in 2019 12.1 per cent of surveyed people were hiding their gender or sexual identity. In previous surveys respondents said they were more open to their friends (81.5 per cent) and least open to their family (11.6 per cent), illustrating that family remains one of the most insecure environments for LGBTIQ + people in Russia.
In order to obtain personal information, so-called fake dates are set up where people create fake profiles on dating websites, invite an LGBTIQ + person on a date, and then blackmail them for not disclosing their sexual orientation.
Svetlana Zakharova, CEO of the Russian charity foundation Sfera, says that in some cases, LGBTIQ+ people can lose their jobs after their homosexuality has been disclosed.
LGBT activist attacked during picket against homophobic bill, 2013. Source: Flickr/Roma YandolinFollow CC BY 2.0
“There is an activist from St. Petersburg who searches on social media for homosexual, bisexual and transsexual people who work in the education industry," she says.
"After collecting evidence this person writes letters to schools demanding to fire these employees.”
Unfortunately, many people lost their jobs after this.
Misha T says he, too, had to quit his job because of his sexual orientation.
“When I started to actively advocate for civil rights in the community, I was asked to leave my job. The last day, when I left, my boss told me: 'Stop your rubbish, get married - and everything will be ok.'
"After that, I could not find a job for a very long time, and I had to leave the city,” he says.
Bess Hepworth, an Executive Director of advocacy non-profit organisation, Planet Ally Australia, thinks it's important to discuss the problem in the media.
“The continual escalation of dignity, rights and free speech in Russia is very concerning," she said.
"I think it’s important to understand that this has been a very long struggle and strategic persecution out of the media spotlight also, not just the horrifically barbaric purges in Chechnya.
I think if we look at countries in Europe such as Poland and Hungary to name just two, we have witnessed a rapid regress in safety and human rights of LGBTIQ+ citizens.
It's an important reminder, she says, of how quickly rights can be taken away and people don't have to take them for granted or underestimate power structures or political coercion.
Changes in political power have led to increases in violence, hate crimes and prohibited freedom of speech and movement.
Who are LGBTIQ+ refugees?
Misha T and his partner decided to move abroad about a year ago. They felt unsafe after meeting with a special services agent.
“An FSB officer met me near my parents' house and offered to cooperate. He hinted that there would be big troubles, including problems with my documents on border control.
"It became clear for us that tough decisions had to be made, it would be impossible to stay longer”.
Andrey Petrov, an executive director of the Stimul Group, a human rights organisation in Moscow, says that LGBTIQ+ parents also often become refugees.
Protesters in London call for the Winter 2014 Olympic Games to be taken away from Sochi, Russia, because of the recently introduced laws. Source: AAP
We have several cases that relate to LGBTIQ+ parents and children. There was a case when the guys had to emigrate to the USA, because Russian authorities tried to take their children away.
The gay couple have two adopted children. They asked for medical help when the child had a stomach ache. That’s how officials found out that the child was being brought up in a same-sex family. Doctors called the Investigative Committee, and the LGBT family was searched.
“They had to leave Russia very quickly, because they wanted to keep the children," said Petrov. "The case has not yet been closed, it's not safe for them to come back."
LGBTIQ+ persecution in Chechnya
Another group of LGBTIQ+ refugees from Russia is represented by people from the southern Russian republic of Chechnya who have to run away due to persecution and torture.
Ms Zakharova says that her organisation has been evacuating LGBTIQ+ people from Chechnya since 2017.
As people often leave the region with one set of clothes, many even without documents, they provide them with housing, clothing, food, medical and psychological help. They assist a situation case by case and make a decision whether it is relatively safe for a person to stay in Russia.
“People who leave Chechnya because of persecution and torture are constantly in danger in Russia," she said.
Candlelight vigil at Federation Square, Melbourne in solidarity with LGBTIQ+ men abducted, tortured and killed in Chechnya by Chechen authorities, May 16, 2017. Source: AAP
"And it's not safe for them even after leaving - we had cases when someone broke into our secret apartments, or people under our care were kidnapped. In February two people were kidnapped and taken back to Chechnya.”
Humiliation, not protection, by police
The Russian LGBTIQ+ network reports that in 2019, 152 people faced illegal detention in connection with gender identity and sexual orientation, 294 - with violation of the right to access medical services, parental rights were violated on 63 occasions, 377 respondents faced violation of their right to access products and services, 316 - with discrimination in the housing sector, 738 - with damage to property and 1113 - with unlawful access to their personal data.
Ms Zakharova says that in Russia LGBTIQ + people do not often go to the police, as many are afraid that they wouldn't find any protection but instead would be humiliated.
“Several years ago, a teenager, who was 17 years old, was beaten on a fake date, his phone was stolen, and he and his mother went to the police to file a statement. The policeman told him: 'You were beaten for a reason, you were beaten for being like this. And we do not protect such people," Zakharova said.
Andrey Petrov confirms this:
People are afraid of discrimination, they are afraid of ridicule from the police, criminals know about it and take advantage of it.
However, both experts say that recently several convictions have been passed against the organisers of fake dates in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Zakharova says activists are regularly detained right on the streets.
“This year in St. Petersburg there was an absolutely astonishing case when a group of teenagers came together, unfurled the rainbow flag and started taking pictures with it. The administration of that building called the police. All the teenagers were taken to the police station. They were later released without charge, but the situation is completely absurd.”
She says that thinking about those teenagers, the youngest of whom was 12 years old, makes her feel very sad.
Society is changing for the better, and the authorities seem to be stuck in their medieval ideas about what they want and how everything should be.
What can Australia do?
Bess Hepworth says that providing international solidarity can help to uplift the human rights defenders on the ground who are risking their liberty and sometimes their life at great psychological and physical toll to themselves, their loved ones and their community.
"After marriage equality in Australia, some may have been mistaken in thinking that was the only important priority to progress queer rights and that only propelled the extreme right to mobilise against trans, non-binary and intersex people.
"It truly is about ensuring dignity, protection and safety for all our community."
She points to Australia's leading role at the Human Rights Council in recent years and active criticism of state actors who continue to violate the human rights system.
Brighton Pride Parade - Brighton Supports LGBT Russia, 2013 Source: Flickr/Dominic Alves CC BY 2.0
"I would say not to underestimate the power of applying firm but diplomatic pressure on our representatives both in embassies and consulates here in Australia but also at key UN posts in New York and Geneva.
"Get to know the ambassadors and also what upcoming opportunities there are for formal interventions to remind state actors to uphold their human rights obligations."
I would also say support queer refugee-led organisations like the Forcibly Displaced People’s Network who can provide vital support for those who had to flee from such incomprehensible persecution.
