Moscow police raided a gay club and detained over 50 people on Saturday 19th October according to news site Nova Gazeta.
They highlighted two pro-Russia Telegram accounts who had shared footage of people being forced to lie on the ground with their hands on their heads, while others were frisked against a wall.
Images of the raid can be seen on the MSK1 and SHOT channels. Police conducting the raid were wearing balaclavas and said they were raiding the club to prevent drug trafficking.
Central Station is a long running venue in Moscow and the Saturday night event was celebrating the US observed National Coming Out Day. When police arrived at the club at 1am there were reportedly 200 people in the venue, of which 50 were detained.
Police also raided another venue called Three Monkeys the same evening. According to the SHOT Telegram channel local residents had complained about “all sorts of naughty things” going on in the venue including partially dressed men, and men in drag. There was also concern about men kissing each other.
In late 2023 the Kremlin announced it would be cracking down on the nation’s LGBTIQA+ communities declaring them to be part of an international extremist organization.
Since the declaration was made Russian citizens have found themselves in court and often imprisoned over wearing rainbow clothes or making social media posts that deft that strict ban.
