Europe
LGBTQ+ travel in Russia
LegalLegal status
Is Russia LGBTQ+ friendly?
Hostile. The 'LGBT movement' is banned as extremist, clubs are raided and dating apps are used for entrapment. Chechnya is dangerous.
LGBTQ+ laws
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Same-sex relationships legal | Yes |
| Same-sex marriage | No |
| Civil unions or partnerships | No |
| Legal gender change | No |
| Anti-discrimination law | No |
| Legal penalty | 'Extremism' and 'propaganda' laws: fines, deportation, prison for symbols or activism. |
LGBTQ+ friendliness by place in Russia
| Place | Rating |
|---|---|
| Moscow | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Saint Petersburg | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Kazan | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Sochi | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Kaliningrad | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Irkutsk | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Yekaterinburg | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Vladivostok | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Murmansk | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Novosibirsk | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Nizhny Novgorod | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Olkhon Island | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky | 2/5 · Hostile |
LGBTQ+ friendly by place
- MoscowLGBTQ+ friendly
- Saint PetersburgLGBTQ+ friendly
- KazanLGBTQ+ friendly
- SochiLGBTQ+ friendly
- KaliningradLGBTQ+ friendly
- IrkutskLGBTQ+ friendly
- YekaterinburgLGBTQ+ friendly
- VladivostokLGBTQ+ friendly
- MurmanskLGBTQ+ friendly
- NovosibirskLGBTQ+ friendly
- Nizhny NovgorodLGBTQ+ friendly
- Olkhon IslandLGBTQ+ friendly
- Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyLGBTQ+ friendly
Sources
- ILGA World database
- US State Department travel advisory
- UK FCDO travel advice: Russia
- Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa portal
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.