Police raid multiple queer venues in Moscow following ‘extremism’ ruling

Law enforcement agents raided multiple queer venues in Moscow overnight, according to Telegram groups SOTA and Beware, Moscow, just days after Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that the international LGBT movement was “extremist”.

The raids took place in at least four venues, and were reportedly expected by management. One eyewitness to the raid on Mono, a bar on Pokrovsky Boulevard, said that “there was the usual party, then the owner came out and said that within an hour law enforcement would arrive in connection with the recent law. Within 20 minutes the dance floor started to empty”.

Eyewitnesses told both channels that police officers had entered the premises on the pretext of looking for drugs. "In the middle of the party they stopped the music and [the police] started to go through the venue. … At the exit, they photographed passports without permission to do so,” wrote Beware, Moscow, citing eyewitnesses.

Other venues raided by police included one hosting the LGBT Hunters Party, the nightclub Secret, and a sauna on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. "Everything was carried out just like a drug raid. No violations were detected, but the mood was spoiled,” one eyewitness told Beware, Moscow.

The sudden change to the LGBT community’s status in Russia, which came into immediate effect following a ruling by the Supreme Court on Thursday, has left queer Russians uncertain of what to expect in the coming weeks.

As the raids in Moscow unfolded, St. Petersburg gay institution Central Station announced its permanent closure on Friday night, citing the decision by the venue’s owners not to extend the club’s lease.