MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. In the first reading on Thursday, legislators from the Russian Parliament’s lower house, the State Duma, unanimously passed a draft law banning the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations in the media, on the Internet, in advertisements, books and movies.
The bill had been sponsored by some 400 lawmakers, including State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.
The document prohibits the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations, pedophilia and the display of LGBT-related information and information encouraging gender changes among teenagers, on the Internet, in the media, in books, on audio and visual platforms, and in movies and advertisements.
The bill also introduces a mechanism restricting children’s access to LGBT-related information on paid services. In particular, it demands users enter codes or take other actions to confirm their age. In addition, the document suggests banning audio and visual services from spreading information harmful to the health and development of children.
Earlier, Volodin had instructed the Duma's profile committees - on information policy, information technology and communications and on family, women and children's issues - to prepare for hearings.
As the Duma chairman noted, the lower chamber received high-profile initiatives on the ban of information promoting non-traditional relationships. He stressed that this issue was very important because the lower chamber receives "a huge number of appeals with requests to adopt a law banning propaganda" that destroys Russian society and traditional family values.
The State Duma legislators also approved in the first reading a draft law stipulating administrative liability for propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations, pedophilia as well as gender change among teenagers and adults.
Fines for LGBT propaganda
The bill stipulates maximum fines of 5 million rubles (over $81,400) for spreading LGBT propaganda among minors and 4 million rubles (over $65,146) among adults. Foreign nationals involved in promoting non-traditional sexual relations propaganda would be expelled from Russia and fined up to 400,000 rubles ($6,500).
The draft law suggests punishing foreign nationals involved in promoting non-traditional values among adults, including on the Internet, with an administrative fine of 100,000 to 200,000 rubles ($1,600-3,200) and their subsequent expulsion from Russia. A similar offense involving minors, is supposed to entail a fine of 200,000 to 400,000 rubles ($3,200-6,500) and deportation from the country.
Fines for propaganda promoting pedophilia
The bill stipulates a range of administrative fines of up to 10 million rubles (over $163,000) for the propaganda of pedophilia. Foreign nationals involved in propaganda of pedophilia may face a fine of up to 800,000 (over $13,045) rubles and a subsequent expulsion from Russia. An administrative 15-day detention is also possible in regard to foreign nationals.
Fines for promoting gender change propaganda
The bill stipulates a range of administrative fines of up to 4 million rubles (over $65,220) for promoting gender change propaganda. Foreign nationals involved in propaganda of pedophilia may face a fine of up to 200,000 rubles (some $3,260) and a subsequent expulsion from Russia. An administrative 15-day detention is also possible in regard to foreign nationals.