Arrest and Court Proceedings Involving Rainbow Earrings
A Nizhny Novgorod resident named Anastasia Ershova was detained for five days after being accused of wearing rainbow-colored earrings. She has since left a private detention center and spoke with socialbites.ca about the case, noting awareness of State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein’s interest in the incident and stating that she was not surprised by a sudden shift in his stance. The deputy later claimed that Ershova discarded the earrings she allegedly wore and then presented others to the court.
Ershova maintained that she wore the same rainbow frog earrings whose images had circulated in the media and were shown to the court. She explained that the change in position from the authorities did not surprise her, and that the record of her removal from the earrings was not accurate. In the official protocol, it was stated that she had been kicked out, but she says she did not throw them away. The account notes that the words were written incorrectly, with a note indicating a misquotation. When pressed about the whereabouts of the earrings, she stated they were at her home and recalled that her father mentioned they were on a table. She described the moment as one of confusion, shock, and stress.
Ershova emphasized that the earrings feature a seven-color rainbow in the shape of a frog, a design that has no association with the LGBT movement. She pointed out that the court did not consider this context. She added that she usually does not focus on the number of colors or the specific appearance, simply because she loves frogs. The defense team even suggested counting the colors at the hearing, but the court did not accept that argument and the matter was set aside. She rejected the notion of conceding the accusation.
After release, Ershova described ongoing safety concerns. She noted that the detention facility did not resemble a five-star hotel. She stated that fear remains a reality and that a repeat incident could carry criminal consequences under the same article. She described the living conditions as cold and lacking basic amenities: abundant humidity, insufficient hot water, and damp rooms. The inmates faced practical hardships, such as drying tangerine peels to reduce moisture odor and dealing with cold, hard beds. She recalled that the environment forced discomfort and limited mobility, making rest difficult.
The timeline recounts that Ershova was arrested on February 1 for displaying rainbow earrings. Media reports indicated that two unidentified men approached her on January 29, filmed the encounter, and demanded the removal of symbols deemed extremist. The footage circulated on social networks, and Ershova was summoned for questioning. A criminal complaint was opened in connection with the alleged display of extremist symbols. Her lawyer confirmed that investigators examined the earrings and identified them as a frog-shaped piece with a seven-color rainbow design.
State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein commented on his Telegram channel that the earrings’ seven-color rainbow design does not relate to the LGBT movement and criticized the court’s decision to detain Ershova as unusual. He later asserted that the earrings Ershova wore at the scene may have been fakes that she discarded, while the other earrings remained in question. The discussion around the case highlighted tensions between symbolism and regulation in the region. The broader situation marks a notable instance of social and legal scrutiny over symbols associated with LGBT expression in Russia. Citation: Official statements and local media reports [Source: regional coverage and court records].
The case has generated ongoing public discussion about the boundaries of symbolic expression and the enforcement actions taken by authorities in response to such symbols. Analysts note that this incident reflects a broader climate of symbolic scrutiny and legal interpretation surrounding LGBT-related imagery in the country, sparking debates about individual rights, public perception, and the limits of expression in the public sphere. Citation: legal analysis and commentary compiled from regional press and expert assessments [Source: legal commentary and press roundups].