Rescuing independent LGBT Russian language media

Situation in the Third Quarter of 2025

The past three months have seen a further escalation of state persecution of LGBTQ+ people in Russia. Below are the key trends confirmed by international human rights organisations.

1. Criminal cases following the designation of the “international LGBT movement” as extremist

According to a Human Rights Watch report (June 2025):

• since the designation of the so-called “international LGBT movement” as extremist, Russian authorities have initiated at least 20 criminal cases against people accused of participating in or being affiliated with the movement;

• around 101 court decisions have been recorded related to the application of extremism legislation to LGBT-related topics (including both administrative and criminal cases).

This practice continues expanding and affects both activists and ordinary citizens.

2. Raids and pressure in offline spaces

According to ILGA-Europe (2025 publication):

• during 2024–2025, Russia saw at least 18 police raids on gay clubs, queer parties and cultural events, directly undermining the safety of community spaces in major cities.

3. Risk of criminal prosecution for repeated administrative offences

According to the UK Home Office Country Policy and Information Note (June 2025):

• repeated violations of the “LGBT propaganda” laws can result in criminal prosecution with a sentence of up to 4 years of imprisonment.

  This increases the pressure on anyone who publicly or professionally engages with LGBTQ+ topics, including journalists and mental health practitioners.

4. Pressure on journalists and local initiatives

With the expanded use of extremism legislation, two Parni+ journalists were officially designated as “employees of an extremist LGBT organisation”, forcing us to adjust workflows, strengthen digital security and increase protection for our team members.

Our Work This Quarter

Despite growing pressure, Parni+ continued operating without interruption.

Publications

• We published 112 news articles and 34 analytical pieces.

• We continued expanding our network of volunteer authors, increasing the share of content created by community members themselves.

Support services

• Our consultant and psychologist provided individual support to people facing anxiety, violence, migration-related difficulties, family pressure, and declining mental health.

• We held regular support groups, including specialised SMART Recovery sessions for people struggling with addictions or compulsive behaviour patterns.

Collaboration with independent media

We maintained cooperation with pro-democracy media outlets, ensuring visibility of LGBTQ+ voices and helping integrate queer perspectives into the broader civic discourse.

Results

• 298 people received direct psychological and consultative support.

• Our content reached about 1 million unique users, providing access to essential information, reducing anxiety, and strengthening community solidarity.

Acknowledgements

Your contributions make it possible for us to continue working under increasing risk. For many people, Parni+ is not just a media platform but a vital space of safety and support.

We are deeply grateful for your trust and solidarity.

Sincerely,

The Parni+ Team

Dear supporters,

We are deeply grateful for your continued solidarity. Thanks to your help, Parni+ remains a crucial source of information and support for LGBTQ+ people in Russia and the region — especially during times of escalating repression.

Context update:

In Q2 2025, state-sponsored persecution of LGBTQ+ people in Russia intensified further. New amendments to so-called “anti-LGBT propaganda” laws have made even more expressions of queer identity criminalized. This has impacted not only our audience, but also our team.

Two of our journalists were fined a total of three times this quarter simply for their work. In a shocking act of intimidation, a brick was thrown through the window of the apartment where one journalist’s elderly mother lives. These attacks are intended to silence us — but we continue to speak.

Despite these challenges, we achieved the following:

• Published 98 news stories and 39 in-depth articles — slightly fewer than in Q1 due to increased risks for authors inside Russia.

• Continued to provide individual support via our peer consultant and psychologist, helping LGBTQ+ people navigate trauma, migration, isolation, and mental health.

• Held regular online peer support groups, including specialized sessions based on the SMART Recovery program for those experiencing addiction or compulsive behaviors.

We also continued our partnerships with independent pro-democracy media, helping increase queer visibility and allyship in broader civil society.

Impact:

• Around 320 people received direct help through consultations and support groups.

• Our informational materials reached an estimated 800,000 unique users online, providing essential knowledge, visibility, and emotional support.

Your donations keep us going — not just as a media platform, but as a lifeline. Thank you for standing with us in this dangerous time.

With gratitude,

The Parni+ Team