The international travel platform Booking.com has been fined 6 million rubles (approximately €64,000) by a Moscow court for allegedly distributing 'LGBT propaganda'. The penalty underscores the growing legal risks for companies promoting inclusivity within Russia's borders.
The case centered on a newsletter sent by the company to its partner hotels. The communication reportedly included information on welcoming and accommodating LGBTQ+ travelers during Pride Month. Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, flagged the content and an accompanying photograph, which ultimately led to the legal action.
Moscow's Tagansky District Court issued two separate fines of 3 million rubles each for the violation. According to the independent Russian news outlet Astra, representatives for Booking.com stated during the proceedings that the content in question had already been removed in March of this year.
A Chilling Climate for LGBTQ+ Rights
The fine against Booking.com, a company founded in Amsterdam and a visible participant in Pride events in the Netherlands, highlights the starkly different legal realities it navigates globally. While the company's boat is a familiar sight at Amsterdam's Canal Pride, its inclusive messaging is now deemed illegal in Russia.
This incident is part of a much broader, state-led suppression of LGBTQ+ rights in the country. The legal framework for this crackdown includes:
- The 2013 'Gay Propaganda' Law: Initially banning the promotion of 'non-traditional sexual relations' to minors.
- The 2022 Expansion: The law was expanded to prohibit such 'propaganda' among people of all ages, effectively erasing public LGBTQ+ representation.
- The 2023 'Extremist' Label: Russia's Supreme Court designated the 'international LGBT public movement' as an 'extremist' organization, putting activists and community members at risk of severe criminal prosecution, comparable to terrorism charges.
The penalty against a major international brand like Booking.com serves as a clear signal of the Kremlin's intensifying campaign against the LGBTQ+ community, extending its reach from local activists to global corporations.
