Moscow: Gennady Zyuganov and Yury Afonin of the Communist Party Central Committee: joint statement on plans to introduce a bill on the prohibition of LGBT propaganda

Background on the proposed bill

On 21st July, Yury Afonin, a member of the Communist Party Central Committee, announced plans to draft a new bill that would ban promotion of LGBT relationships in Russia, stating it as a way to “protect traditional family values". The announcement sparked widespread debate in the country.

Public reaction to announcement

The proposed bill has been met with mixed reactions in Russia, with some expressing strong support for the measures and others voicing concerns about their potential impact on freedom of speech and human rights. A number of human rights groups have condemned the proposal, arguing that it would further stigmatize and discriminate against LGBT individuals in Russia.

Responses from politicians

Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party, has backed the proposal, stating that it will help to “protect children from harmful propaganda." However, some other members of the Duma have expressed reservations about the bill, arguing that it is too broad and could be used to suppress legitimate discussion of LGBT issues.

Prospects for the bill

It remains unclear whether the bill will be passed into law. The proposal will need to be approved by both the Duma and the Federation Council before it can be signed by the President. LGBTQ+ rights groups and human rights organizations plan to hold a series of rallies and protests in major cities across Russia in the coming weeks to try to prevent the law from being passed.