Up to date, I was not able to locate any contens of the proposal on “prohibition of propaganda of homosexuality” submitted by
Alexander Tschuyew from the Party “Rodina”. As soon as there will be details in the Russian press, I will report here.
The persecution of homosexuals in Russia is not really a matter of centuries, as it was in Europe and in the Colonies. In the Soviet time, the Article 120 was often used to eliminate politically unconvenient opponents.
“In 1934, consensual sex between adult men was declared a criminal action. Untill 1993 gays were imprisoned under article 121, although in the ninethies only few men were actually imprisoned. It is obvious that, in essence, the article 121 was used as the method of political pressure. Between 1930 and 1980, approximately 1000 men were condemned and sent to camps yearly. At the end of 1980th the numbers began to decrease. According to the Russian Ministry of Justice, in the year 1989, 538 people were sentenced under article 121, in 1990 - 497, in 1991 - 462, in the first half-year of 1992 - 227 people. At the moment of the cancellation of article 121 on 27 May 1993, some 73 men were incarcerated exclusively for the voluntary sexual relations with adult men, and 192 men were incarcerated under this und other articles.” First attempt to re-install the criminal persecution for consensual sex between men was undertaken in the
year 2002 (
http://www.gay.ru/society/phobia/rajkov/), in my free translation:
“ The deputies of the pro-president centrist fractions Rogozin, Bulavinov, Mutsoyev and Makhachev in 2002 submitted a legislation proposal - as it is separately said, "not foreseeing additional expenditures, covered by the federal budget". Deputies proposed to supplement criminal code of Russian Federation with new article 131-1: "the unnatural satisfaction of sexual need of man with man (“pederasty”) is punished by deprivation of freedom for a period from one to five years". The discussion in the Russian society of this homophobic initiative of politicians endured for approximately 2 years. On 28 May 2004, Deputies of the Duma refused correction of the criminal code RF, suggested by the party "Peoples Deputy". For the adoption of the bill voted 58 deputies (with 226 voices being required), 34 voted against, 1 restrained from voting. The remaining deputies simply ... did not regard it necessary to participate. "If we do not support today these corrections, tomorrow we, possibly, will be confronted with law proposals about the legalization of unisexual marriages", stated Gennadi Raikov at the sitting of the Parliament. He, by the way, does not leave the attempts to revive his initiative, in particular, indicating formal mistakes in the procedure of voting.”The current initiative of
Alexander Tschuyew from the Party “Rodina” clearly interdepends with the attempts of Russian gay activists to organize the first Gay Pride in Moscow this year. The Russian Orthodox Church, neo-fashists and several populist parties are very actively trying to turn public opinion against gays and lesbians in an effort to prevent further liberalization known from the West. Unfortunately, the general public still regards homosexuals as inferior creatures, and the Moscow’s Mayor intends to prohibit this year’s Pride (in the year 2002 Lushkow has already cancelled the Parade). On 15 May 2006 the initiators of the Moscow Pride are planning to submit their official request for the demonstration – soon we will know whether they will succeed or not this year.
The distribution of seats in the Russian Parliament (Duma) makes it extremely
unlikely that the suggested legislation, whatever its exact wording might be, will be accepted. Major party is the “United Russia” of President Putin, and its current policy does not include active oppression of gays. This time, there is no real reason for panic, as without “OK” from the President no laws are passing the Parliamint in Russia. Unfortunately, who can guarantee that in the time after Mr Putin such a law might not be introduced really?
Interstingly, the criminal Code of the Russian Federation includes an anti-discrimination statute (article 136). In my free translation it reads as follows:
“Chapter 19. Crimes against the constitutional rights and the freedoms of man and citizen
Article 136. Disturbance of the equality of rights and freedoms of man and citizen
1) Discrimination, i.e. the violation of rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of man and citizen based on his sex, race, nationalitiy, language, origin, property and official position, place of residence, religion, persuasions, belonging to public associations or any social groups, is punished by [fine of so and so much Rubel] or by corrective labor for the period of up to one year, or by the deprivation of freedom for the period of up to two years.
2) The same act, commited by an official, is punished by [fine of so and so much Rubel], or by deprivation of the right to occupy specific positions [..] for the period of up to five years or [..] by corrective labor for the period from one year to two years or by the deprivation of freedom for the period to five years. ”Unfortunately, like in many third-world countries, there is a big difference between the written and the practiced law. Nowadays, even most clear and direct instigations to physical violence against gays remain unpunished: for instance, a Mufti called Talgat Tadjuddin has publicly declared that gays must be beaten and stoned, and he still is a free man – see the
report. The most outrageous crimes against homosexual men (or assumingly homosexual men) are still happening in prisons - brutal rape and dayly sexual abuse by co-detainees are common and even are encouraged by the prison personel - as a means to "keep order". There is so much to do, that human rights activists will have to work for decades.