Russian court brands LGBT movement 'extremist'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) — The Russian Supreme Court on Thursday declared that the LGBT movement is extremist and banned its activities within the country's borders.

In a statement, the court said it had decided to "satisfy the lawsuit of the Ministry of Justice on the recognition of the LGBT movement as extremist and to ban its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation." It added that the decision would come into effect immediately.

The hearing was held behind closed doors and it took the court some four hours to study the evidence presented by the Justice Ministry, including classified documents.

No representatives defending the movement appeared during the hearing.

The Justice Ministry filed its request on Nov. 17 for the top court to ban the movement's activities and recognize it as "extremist."

It said various signs and manifestations of extremist orientation had been revealed in its activities, including the incitement of social and religious discord.