Russian President Vladimir Putin has made some provocative statements, accusing the West of promoting “open satanism” by adopting policies that support gay and transgender rights.
In his view, this represents a departure from “traditional universal spiritual and moral values” that Russia aims to defend.
Putin’s rhetoric appears to be part of a broader effort to position Russia as a bulwark against perceived moral decay in the West.
The Russian government has taken concrete steps to suppress LGBTQ+ rights, including outlawing the “international LGBT public movement” as an extremist organization and banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations.”
These actions are widely seen as an attempt by Putin to rally support by scapegoating and vilifying LGBTQ+ individuals, especially amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.