Russian Police Crackdown on LGBTQ+ Community Following Court Ban

Russian police conducted raids on gay venues in Moscow following a Supreme Court ruling that banned the "international LGBTQ movement" and labeled it an extremist organization. The raids, which police claimed were routine drug checks, took place in at least three entertainment venues. Witnesses reported that police photographed partygoers' passports. The LGBTQ+ community in Russia has faced increasing crackdowns in recent years, with President Vladimir Putin seeking to portray himself as a defender of traditional moral values against the liberal West.