Russia Bans , ‘LGBT’ Movement.br On Nov. 30, Russia's Supreme Court deemed the "international LGBT public movement" to be an br extremist organization, BBC News reports.br LGBT activities were br banned throughout Russia.br The closed-door hearing did not host anyone br from "the defendant's side," the court said.br Vitaly Milonov, an MP from the ruling party, br United Russia, said that the ban was "not about br sexual minorities or the private life of individuals.".br It's more about the political agenda br proclaimed by this LGBT international br movement. They have their own tasks, br their own goals. They act as a political force, br a political structure and the goals of this br structure contravene the Russian Constitution, Vitaly Milonov, an MP from the br ruling party, United Russia, via BBC News.br The BBC's Steve Rosenberg responded by br saying, "But there isn't a movement called br the 'International LGBT public movement.' br How can you ban something that doesn't exist?".br Oh, it's easy. We can ban any activities from LGBT international organizations here in Russia. br That's nice. We don't need them, Vitaly Milonov, an MP from the br ruling party, United Russia, via BBC News.br LGBTQ advocates in Russia fear that the new br ruling will result in mass arrests and prosecutions.br This is real repression. There is panic in br Russia's LGBT community. People are br emigrating urgently. The actual word br we're using is evacuation. We're having to br evacuate from our own country. It's terrible. , Sergei Troshin, a municipal deputy in St. Petersburg br who came out as gay last year, via statement.br I think [the court hearing] is linked br to the presidential election next br March. [The authorities] are br creating an artificial enemy, Sergei Troshin, a municipal deputy in St. Petersburg br who came out as gay last year, via statement.br President Vladimir Putin, a staunch supporter br of "traditional values" in opposition of the br West, is expected to soon announce that he br will run for another six-year term in March.