• Novosibirsk region
• Sexual minorities

Deputies of the Legislative Assembly of the Novosibirsk region have proposed introducing an article on penalising the promotion of homosexuality among minors into the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation.

On March, 15, participants in a joint meeting of two committees of the region’s Legislative Assembly discussed a draft of this article that provides for a fine of between 5,000 and 500,000 Russian roubles. According to Radio Svoboda, at a session of the Regional Legislative Assembly the committee members will propose that draft amendments be submitted to the State Duma.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Novosibirsk region, Ivan Moroz, stated that the regional parliament was approached by members of the public with a request to draft such amendments.

Penalties for the promotion of homosexuality have already been introduced in St. Petersburg and several other regions of Russia. Gay activists, as well as Russian and international human rights defenders, are actively campaigning against such amendments to the law.