In a controversial move, Russia's state financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring, has classified the self-proclaimed "international LGBT public movement" as a terrorist and extremist organization. The inclusion of the so-called movement on this list has raised questions about how this designation will be enforced, considering that the LGBT movement is not legally recognized and lacks a registered address or bank account.

This latest development comes after Russia's Supreme Court declared the movement as a banned "extremist" organization back in November, a decision that was supported by the country's Justice Ministry on March 1 when they added it to the list of banned organizations.

The implications of this extremist designation are beginning to manifest, as evidenced by a recent incident in Orenburg where a court ordered the arrest of two managers at a gay bar. This marked Russia's first criminal "extremism" case against members of the LGBTQ+ community. If found guilty of "organizing extremist activities," the managers could face up to 10 years in prison.

Civil rights activists and LGBTQ+ advocates have expressed concern over the broad and vague nature of these extremist designations, fearing that they could open the door for authorities to persecute individuals who have associated with LGBTQ+ lifestyles or symbols in public. This has further exacerbated the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights in Russia since the enactment of a law prohibiting "LGBT propaganda" towards minors in 2013.

The implications of this controversial move by Rosfinmonitoring are far-reaching, raising significant concerns about the stifling of free speech and the persecution of marginalized communities in Russia. The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over three decades, has also fallen victim to Russia's restrictions on media, being unjustly labeled as a "foreign agent" by the government.

Despite these challenges, The Moscow Times remains steadfast in its commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia. The journalists at The Moscow Times refuse to be silenced and are calling for support to continue their critical mission. They are appealing to the public to contribute towards independent journalism in order to combat the assault on the integrity of journalism and uphold the values of transparency and freedom of expression.