It was last autumn that the Regional Assembly in Arkhangelsk approved a bill that bans all activities aimed at promoting homosexuality in public areas. The law is entitled “Measures to protect the morals and health of children” and was originally initiated by community organizations and religious movements in Arkhangelsk.
The European Parliament resolution adopted this week includes a long lists of society concerns of what the parliament considers to be important regarding the good development between Russia and the EU. The resolution comes up-front of the presidential election in Russia on March 4.
The resolution reads: “(The European Parliament) Strongly condemns the adoption by the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg of a law against propaganda on sexual orientation; equally condemns similar laws adopted in the Ryazan, Arkhangelsk and Kostroma regions; calls on all Russian authorities to stop restricting freedom of expression in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity, in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; calls on the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative to convey the European Union’s opposition to these laws;”
