Russia: Treatment of homosexuals in Tula and Yubileiny (2001-Sept. 2003)

Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Author Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada
Publication Date 30 September 2003
Citation / Document Symbol RUS42039.E
Reference 2
Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Russia: Treatment of homosexuals in Tula and Yubileiny (2001-Sept. 2003), 30 September 2003, RUS42039.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/403dd2178.html [accessed 17 September 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Information specific to the treatment of homosexual individuals in the city of Tula or in the village of Yubileiny (Yubileynyy) in Tul'skaya Oblast was not found among the sources consulted.

The Research Directorate found three recent reports that comment on the current situation of homosexual individuals in Russia. Reuters reported in 2002 that openly gay individuals in Russia "are marginalised by society and often rejected by their own families" (30 Dec. 2002). Additionally, Gay.com UK cited reports of police harassment and brutality against homosexuals in Russia (22 Apr. 2003). An April 2003 article published by the online homosexual advocacy magazine The Gully observed that the Russian "government continues to deprive lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people of their basic rights to life, security and equality before the law" (11 Apr. 2003). Indeed, in 2002, Russian parliamentary deputies made several failed attempts to re-criminalize homosexuality (The Gully 11 Apr. 2003; Reuters 30 Dec. 2002). Reuters quoted the President of the St. Petersburg-based Association HS-Gay-Straight Alliance as stating that he did not feel that there had been any progress in Russia over the past 10 years in terms of tolerance toward homosexuals (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Gay.com UK. 22 April 2003. "Historic First Vote On the Rights of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People." [Accessed 29 Sept. 2003]

The Gully. 11 April 2003. Camilla Roubleva. "The Other Siberia Part 1: Gay Russia Under Church and State. Of Priests, Commissars and Putin." [Accessed 26 Sept. 2003]

Reuters. 30 December 2002. "Russian Gays Still Suffer, Despite Sexual Revolution." (Sodomy Laws) [Accessed 29 Sept. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

Unsuccessful attempt to contact the Russian National GBLT Center, Together.

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

Association HS-Gay-Straight Alliance

Excess Petersburg

Gay.ru

Human Rights Campaign

Human Rights Institute, Moscow

Human Rights Watch

ILGA

ILGA-Europe

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission

Johnson's Russia List

Lavender Magazine

Lesbi.ru

Moscow Helsinki Group

Pravda

World News Connection

Copyright notice: This document is published with the permission of the copyright holder and producer Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). The original version of this document may be found on the offical website of the IRB at http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/. Documents earlier than 2003 may be found only on Refworld.

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