Andrei Kotov’s death is more than just a sad personal story. It shows how much Russia has changed since the more open days of the 1990s. What started as a shift in political ideas has now become harsh government persecution. Today, even showing a rainbow flag can get someone in trouble, and being openly LGBTQ+ is treated like a crime.
This is not just about following the law anymore—it’s about shutting people up. Attacking gay clubs, pride symbols, and LGBTQ+ travel businesses like Kotov’s shows that the government is willing to treat this community as less than human to gain political power. Putin’s government isn’t targeting LGBTQ+ people just because of old-fashioned beliefs. It’s using fear and division to control public opinion and win support from people who believe in strict traditional values.
Saying that LGBTQ+ people are like terrorist groups such as ISIS or Al Qaeda is not only ridiculous—it’s dangerous. It encourages violence, allows people to be jailed, and tells everyone that being different is not allowed in Putin’s Russia.
Even though the world is criticizing these actions, people inside Russia who support LGBTQ+ rights are being forced to hide. Many now rely on online spaces to stay connected and support each other, even though they are scared.
The world needs to see what’s really happening: the Russian government is using the excuse of “protecting tradition” to take away basic human rights. Andrei Kotov’s death is not just one sad story—it’s a warning sign. If we stay quiet, it will only help those who want to erase LGBTQ+ people and their right to live freely and without fear.
Who Is Andrei Kotov
There have been reports that Russia is silencing the LGBTQ community, claiming it violates the country’s laws. Various reports have emerged about crackdowns by Putin’s forces on gay, lesbian, and bisexual couples. Recently, in a disturbing event, Russian police took into custody a man who ran a travel agency to help the LGBTQ+ community, and later, officials found him dead in prison.
According to a report by The New York Times, the travel agency run by Andrei Kotov offered tours aimed exclusively at men. This raised suspicion among the authorities. He was taken into custody by police enforcing new Russian laws that restrict the rights of gay people. The report says that, “one night in December, officers stormed the apartment of the agency’s owner and tied him up.” quoting his statement in court.
Russia Crackdown On LGBTQ+ – What The Travel Agency Owner Said
“Fifteen people came to my place at night,” said the owner, Andrei Kotov. “They were beating me in the face, kicking me and leaving bruises.” His comments were reported by Russian media and confirmed by his lawyer. Kotov later said that the officers pressured him to “confess” that he was running a travel agency aimed at gay people, which he denied. The officers kept beating him, he said, and told him: “No trips for gays.” The publication reported that a few weeks later, Mr. Kotov, then 48, was found dead in his prison cell.
Rights Of L.G.B.T.Q In Russia
Mr. Kotov’s death reflects an increasingly harsh crackdown in Russia on the rights of L.G.B.T.Q. Russia has been pushing the new rule from November 2023. The Russian Supreme Court has officially labeled the “international LGBTQ movement” as an extremist organization, placing it in the same legal category as terrorist groups like Al Qaeda or the Islamic State (ISIS). Since then, Russia has banned any public representation of gay and transgender people. The government has also prohibited gender-affirming medical care and stopped people from changing their gender in official documents. After the Supreme Court’s ruling in November 2023, authorities can imprison anyone involved with the LGBTQ+ community for up to six years.
Targeting Nightclubs, Rainbow Flags And Gay Tourism
Just days after the Supreme Court ruling in 2023, police raided gay bars, nightclubs, and venues that hosted drag shows in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities, shaking the LGBTQ+ community. Authorities registered the country’s first criminal case for involvement with the “LGBT movement” extremist group against the owner and staff of a bar in the southwestern city of Orenburg, which had hosted drag performances. After that, they filed several similar cases across Russia. Officials also brought charges against people for displaying symbols like the rainbow flag, without distinguishing between community members and activists.
Putin’s Crackdown On LGBTQ+ Rights – Fight To Preserve Traditional Values
President Putin signed a law that bars people from adopting Russian children if they come from countries where gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy or surgeries for transgender individuals are legal. Additionally, he approved another controversial law which again triggered nationwide protests. According to this law, sharing or promoting any material that encourages people not to have children will be considered illegal. This, according to Putin, is a part of a broader effort to promote traditional family values and increase birth rates in Russia by discouraging ideas or lifestyles seen as contrary to those goals.
How LGBTQ Community Responded
According to Associated Press, Some regional organizations working for LGBTQ+ have shut down completely, while some others operate openly, but in a drastically different way. The Moscow Community Center for LGBT+ Initiatives moved its community-building efforts into a sprawling online network of chats and Zoom meeting rooms, according to Baranova.
Russia’s LGBTQ+ Crackdown: A Shift From Openness To Extremism
In the 1990s, LGBTQ+ people became more visible and accepted in Russia. Pride parades, drag shows, and support groups were active, especially in big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
By 2012, LGBTQ+ acceptance in Russia began to fade. President Putin’s government started promoting conservative values to win public support.
Since then, Russia has made tough laws against LGBTQ+ people followed by a law banning talking about LGBTQ+ topics with children from 2013. This law is termed as the “gay propaganda” law. In 2020, another law was made which says that the marriage can happen only between a man and a woman. And then In 2023, the major law came into action as Russia’s Supreme Court called the LGBTQ+ movement “extremist.” According to this law, it is now a crime to openly support or be part of the queer community.
