Reacting to today’s imposition of a heavy fine on feminist and LGBTI-activist Yulia Tsvetkova under the homophobic “gay propaganda” law for administering LGBTI-themed groups on social media, Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia Director, said:

“Once again, a Russian human rights activist pays a heavy price – in every sense - for simply spreading the ideals of inclusiveness, tolerance and women’s empowerment.

“Yulia is the latest target of a long-running discriminatory and intensely homophobic campaign. She has suffered one blow after another, having been arbitrarily detained, interrogated and intimidated on multiple occasions. Her theatrical and creative initiatives have been stifled by law enforcement officers, and her drawings now judged as pornographic.

“Yulia is currently under house arrest and is still facing criminal “pornography” charges which are punishable by up to six years in prison. All charges against her must be dropped, and the fine and house arrest imposed on her annulled. She has done nothing else than standing up for human rights.” Read more via Amnesty