– It’s urgent! It has been urgent for a long time, but now you can get long prison sentences for being associated with being queer, half an hour’s drive from Kirkenes. That’s what Mina Skouen, senior adviser at the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, says. They ask Norway to assist with Schengen visas for vulnerable people in Russia. The reason is that the Russian Supreme Court has decided to label “the international LGBT movement” as an extremist organisation. This means that all organized activities for queers will be banned and can result in up to 12 years in prison. – In the past, it was possible for Russian human rights and queer activists to obtain a Schengen visa, which allows you to travel safely in and out of Russia for a longer period. This type of visa is no longer issued to Russians, says Skouen. Offense to be queer The strict law does not come into force until 9 January next year, but Mina Skouen is worried about what might happen to gay people even before that time. Last Friday, police in Moscow raided at least four queer clubs and a sauna for gay men. – We believe that the law will in practice be a criminalization of queer people, even if you talk about the so-called “international movement” as an organisation, she says. Mina Wikshåland Skouen of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee says Norway has the conditions to issue Schengen visas to Russian human rights and queer activists. Photo: The Norwegian Helsinki Committee Norwegian authorities have previously justified refusal of this type of visa with “fear” that the persons may remain in Norway, rather than return to their respective home countries. They must therefore apply for asylum and stay. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee believes that people who need protection should get it. – But the main problem is that activists and people who do not want to apply for asylum, who want to stay and continue the important work they do in Russia, need more security to continue their work. Here, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee believes that Norway has the prerequisites to assist. – People are afraid, for themselves and for their families. And so are we, says Skouen. Storting representative Grunde Almeland (V) has asked Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) to answer the question of visas for exposed human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and other exposed issues in the Storting. “Churches are a sanctuary” Mariella Lind has followed closely the attitudes towards LGBT people in Russia. As a former co-organiser of the collaborative project Barents pride, she has for several years been in close contact with queer people from all over our neighboring country. – Barents pride has given the Russians a few days of complete freedom. In Russia, they are beating themselves up. Many people have very neutral attitudes, says Lind. Since 2017, Barents pride has been organized in Kirkenes. Russian queer activists and groups have crossed the border to participate on Norwegian soil. Photo: Ole-Tommy Pedersen / Barents Secretariat During Barents pride, the organizers have handed out T-shirts that say “Churches are a sanctuary”. – That is clearly the case. I see several kilos fall off the shoulders of those who participate. – The Russian authorities believe that this decision only covers the organisations. – Nonsense! If they take hold of the organisations, they also take hold of the individuals there. If you come out as queer, you will be persecuted, and the attitudes have only gotten worse and worse. According to Lind, there are queer Russians in Kirkenes today. She says they don’t dare to talk to the media, even anonymously, for fear that Russian government officials in the city will pick up on it. The Russian consulate is located in the border town of Kirkenes. The friend evaporated five years ago Ten years ago, Russia banned so-called queer “propaganda”. Following the tightening of regulations in the Russian Supreme Court on Thursday, participants in the “international LGBT movement” risk up to twelve years in prison. Mariella Lind suspects that a queer friend of hers is serving time in Kazakhstan right now. There, President Kassym-Jomart Tokajev has spoken warmly about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. – I haven’t heard from him for five years now. No one in his circle has heard anything either. news has requested the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to comment on the matter, but has so far not received a reply. “The Russian LGBT network” states on Telegram that there are opportunities to appeal the Supreme Court’s decision before the law comes into force on 9 January.
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Skeive risks twelve years in prison, only 30 minutes from Kirkenes – news Troms and Finnmark
