MOSCOW - A Russian court has ruled that two popular LGBT networking sites be blocked for disseminating "anti-family values," including a major online group with nearly 200,000 members.

The court in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday announced the decision against the groups on VK, a Russian platform similar to Facebook.

"An inspection showed they contain information available to the public, including children, which negates family values, propagates non-traditional sexual relations and promotes disrespectful attitudes towards parents," the court statement said.

Russia in 2013 introduced a law against "gay propaganda," which officially bans the "promotion of non-traditional lifestyles to minors" but in effect outlaws LGBT activism. Read more via AFP/VOA