Russia arrests 3 Dutch visitors, cites 'gay propaganda' ban

Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…

The Russian LGBT Network reported July 21:

In Murmansk city (North Russia) 3 Dutch citizens detained by the police on charges of gay-propaganda.

At the moment they were released from the police station.

Police compiled reports on the violation of rules of stay in the territory of Russia and the violation of the law of the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.”

Court hearing will be at 9 a.m. (Moscow time) 22 July 2013.

The Russian LGBT Network provides legal assistance.

The law introduces fines of up to 200,000 rubles ($6,700) for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors through the media or Internet. The law bans acts and speech that may cause a “distorted understanding” that gay relations and heterosexual relations are “socially equivalent.”

Under the law, individuals can be fined up to 100,000 rubles ($US 3,000 or €2,300) for publishing information deemed pro-gay, while organizations can be fined one million rubles ($30,000 or €23,200) and be shut down for 90 days.

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The law allows the government to arrest and detain gay (or “pro-gay”) foreigners for up to 14 days before they would then be expelled from Russia.

The law is vague about what is considered “pro-gay,” but it apparently could apply to displays of the rainbow flag and to same-sex partners holding hands.