BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Washington Blade
Against the backdrop of growing concern over anti-LGBT discrimination and violence in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday signed a bill into law that bans the “promotion of homosexuality” to minors. Police in St. Petersburg on Saturday arrested 40 LGBT advocates and a handful of the estimated 200 nationalists who challenged them during a gay rights rally. Authorities on May 24 arrested Alekseev and 29 other gay activists who tried to stage a Pride celebration outside Moscow City Hall.
The Associated Press reported Putin signed the measure — under which individuals will face fines of between 4,000 and 5,000 rubles ($124-$155) and government officials would face fines of between 40,000 and 50,000 rubles ($1,241-$1,551) — less than a week after Russia’s upper house of Parliament approved it.
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