The Perm Industrial District Court fined a local resident, Maria Popova, one thousand rubles for displaying a rainbow flag in a window. This outcome was reported by the court itself.
The police and the judge reasoned that Popova showcased LGBT symbols, noting that the International LGBT Social Movement is banned in the Russian Federation under Part 1 of Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code. The ruling reflected the authorities’ view that such symbols constitute extremist content within the current legal framework.
The defendant admitted to the alleged offense. The presiding judge also took into account the defendant’s chronic health issues when reaching the decision, which included ordering the rainbow flag to be destroyed by the judge personally rather than by a third party.
Earlier in the month, a resident of Nizhny Novgorod, Anastasia Ershova, faced arrest after wearing rainbow earrings. Reports indicate that on January 29, two unidentified men approached Ershova with a camera and demanded that she and a companion remove what were described as “extremist symbols.” A video of the incident circulated on social networks, leading to Ershova being summoned for questioning and a protocol being drawn up for displaying extremist symbols. Ershova’s legal representative stated that the earrings were examined by experts, who concluded they depicted a frog with a seven-color rainbow appearance. It is noted that the rainbow used in LGBT symbolism typically comprises six colors.
There were earlier media discussions about repainting a rainbow staircase near a school in Primorye, highlighting ongoing public debates around symbolism and public space in Russia.
In these cases, authorities underscore how symbolism can intersect with local laws and administrative actions. Observers point out the tension between personal expression and the state’s designated framework for extremism and public order. The broader conversation continues to explore what constitutes permissible expression in public spaces and how legal standards are applied in diverse communities across the country. [Citation: Legal records and contemporary reporting on cases involving LGBT symbolism in Russia]