South-Ossetian MIA demands to ban LGBT* propaganda

In South Ossetia, the legislation does not provide for any punishments for LGBT* propaganda; and the local Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has demanded that parliament regulate the law enforcers' work.

According to the MIA, it has suggested local MPs to adopt a law, similar to the Russian one, banning LGBT* propaganda and demonstration of non-traditional sexual preferences. Alan Gagloev, President of South Ossetia, gave this instruction to the bosses of the local MIA, the IA "Res" has reported.

The need for the law is dictated by the fact that some residents are registered in the Hornet social network, which is banned in Russia; South-Ossetian law enforcers are checking this information.

Earlier, the ruling "Georgian Dream" Party introduced a package of legislative amendments to parliament that restrict the rights of LGBT* people. Georgian authorities are destroying the country's European future, a German MP is sure; and the European External Action Service has warned that the adoption of the bill will exacerbate the crisis in EU-Georgia relations.

Apart from Southern Caucasus, LGBT* people are also persecuted by authorities of North-Caucasian republics. Back in January 2022, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on the protection of LGBT* rights in Europe, paying particular attention to persecution based on people's sexual orientation in Chechnya.

*On November 30, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation declared the movement an "extremist organization" and banned the "international public movement of LGBT people". With this decision, the court satisfied the claim of the Russian Ministry of Justice, sent to the court on November 17, 2023.