Increase in Russian Asylum Claims in 2014

The US and other nations are receiving new asylum applications from gay russians fleeing homophobic legislation and violence in Russia. 

While there is no data yet available on the number of people fleeing Russia because of discrimination due to their sexual orientation, asylum applications by Russians are up by 34% from 2012 based on figures from the Department of Homeland Security. 

This increase in claims is in part due to the worsening anti-gay climate in Russia. Immigration Equality--a New York-based group that offers legal services to immigrants in the LGBTQ community--reports that the number of inquires it has received from gay Russians has risen from 68 in 2012 to 127 in 2013, and up to 161 through October 30th of 2014. 

Over the last year, gay-rights gatherings and parades have been targeted by violent assailants as Russian parliament passed laws prohibiting "gay propaganda," pride marches, and increased punishments for sexual behavior between same-gendered couples. At the moment, men or women found guilty of participating in "nontraditional sexual relations" face a fine of up to 200,000 rubles ($6,060), something many activists have been detained and charged for after pride marches. In early 2014 a spokesperson for the Russian Orthodox Church tried to organize a national referendum on a ban on homosexual relations in Russia, and Ivan Okhlobystin--a popular actor who also called for Russians to be burned alive in ovens--has been pushing for Parliament to reimplement a law which punished sodomy with up to five years in prison. These violent anti-gay sentiments pro port that LGBTQ communities are a threat to Russian society, and are found everywhere in mainstream Russian media. The most recent " call to arms" from a TV host who recommended, during a nationally televised broadcast, that Russians burn or bury the hearts of gays after they die. 

For more information on Russia's current Anti-Gay law, click here

Counter-protesters yell slogans at a Pride march

To be approved for asylum, an applicant must show evidence that he or she has a "well-founded fear of persecution" in their country of origin, and in November the European Court of Justice ruled that gays could not be told to be discreet as an alternative to asylum. Russian's anti-gay legislation and history of violence against gays could be enough to earn applicants' approval for refugee status. 

There have also been many online videos which have surfaced in the last few months which show that violent and humiliating attacks on gays is increasing in Russia. These videos show gangs stripping men naked, urinating on them, trying to force them to perform sexual acts on objects like glass bottles, beating them, and forcing them to tell their full name and address to the camera. Many of these attackers don't seem to differentiate between homosexuality and pedophilia.