Is it the worst time to be gay in Russia? How unsafe is the LGBTQIA+ community under President Vladimir Putin? How has the political homophobia in Russia unfolded? And what are its anti-LGBTQIA+ laws? State repression of the LGBTQIA+ community As part of what it calls the crackdown against ‘LGBT propaganda’, the Russian police raided several nightclubs and bars in Moscow early on November 29th. Clubgoers were ordered to lie down on the floor, phones, laptops and cameras were confiscated, and people were allowed to leave only after their documents had been checked. Moscow police also detained the 48 year old head of the “Men Travel” travel agency, on suspicions that he was preparing a trip for – what they termed – “supporters of non-traditional sexual values” to Egypt over the Russian New Year holiday.