The Russian State Duma at its Thursday session approved the third reading of a bill introducing substantial fines for propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations, pedophilia and information capable of inducing gender reassignment surgery, APA reports citing TASS.
Fines for LGBT propaganda which involves "disseminating information or public actions" as well as propaganda of gender reassignment will amount up to 100,000 rubles (about $1,650) for residents, up to 200,000 rubles (about $3,300) for officials and up to 1 mln rubles (about $16,500) for legal entities. The maximal fee for such propaganda on the Internet or in media outlets will be up to 5 mln rubles (about $82,600).
***12:57
Russian lawmakers on Wednesday gave crucial second-reading approval to a bill that significantly expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBT rights in the country, APA's Moscow correspondent reports.
A 2013 law banned what authorities deem to be spreading “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors. The new bill expands that ban to spreading such information to people aged 18 and older.
The bill must pass a third reading on Thursday in the Duma, the lower house of parliament, before going to the upper house and then to President Vladimir Putin and becoming law. But the second reading in the Duma is when major amendments are approved, so Wednesday's approval presages easy passage.
The new bill outlaws advertising, media, and online resources. books, films, and theater productions deemed to contain such “propaganda.”
It also broadens the existing restrictions by banning information about gender transitions from being spread to minors.
Violations are punishable by fines and, if committed by non-residents, could lead to their expulsion from Russia.
The fines range from 100,000 to 2 million rubles ($1,660-$33,000). For some violations, foreigners could face 15 days' detention prior to expulsion.
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