Aleksandr Klimov, Diana Kamilyanova and Vyacheslav Khasanov are political prisoners
The owner and employees of a nightclub have been arrested in Russia’s first criminal case on charges of involvement in the ‘international LGBT public movement.’
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Aleksandr Klimov, Diana Kamilyanova, and Vyacheslav Khasanov political prisoners. They have been remanded in custody on charges of organising the activities of an extremist organization for working in a nightclub which the authorities call a place of ‘LGBT propaganda.’ The prosecution of Klimov, Kamilyanova and Khasanov violates their right to fair trial.
We demand the immediate release of Aleksandr Klimov, Diana Kamilyanova, and Vyacheslav Khasanov and that all criminal charges against them be dropped.
Who are Aleksandr Klimov, Diana Kamilyanova, and Vyacheslav Khasanov and what are the charges against them?
Aleksandr Klimov, Diana Kamilyanova, and Vyacheslav Khasanov work at the Pose nightclub in Orenburg. Khasanov is the owner of the club, Klimov works there as an art director and Kamilyanova as an administrator.
On 9 March 2024, law enforcement officers together with activists of the radical right Russian Community raided the club looking for ‘LGBT propaganda.’ As a result of the raid, on 18 March 2024 the first criminal case in Russia for involvement in the ‘international LGBT public movement,’ which had earlier been declared extremist, was opened in Orenburg.
At the end of March 2024, Aleksandr Klimov, Diana Kamilyanova, and Vyacheslav Khasanov were arrested on charges of organising the activities of an extremist organization (Article 282.2, Part 1, of the Russian Criminal Code). All three were remanded in custody. Each of them faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Why do we consider Klimov, Kamilyanova and Khasanov political prisoners?
We consider the decision by the Russian Supreme Court to declare the non-existent ‘International LGBT Public Movement’ extremist to be unlawful. Previously, human rights activists have pointed out that this decision prepares the way for the prosecution of LGBTQ+ activists and organizations protecting LGBTQ+ people. However, the prosecution of Klimov, Kamilyanova, and Khasanov shows that those who are simply engaged in providing leisure activities for the public, including LGBTQ+ people, can also be accused of involvement in the ‘international LGBT public movement.’
There is no evidence of a crime in their case. The criminal prosecution was launched only because people of a non-heterosexual orientation visited the club and drag artists performed there.
A detailed description of the case of Klimov, Kamilyanova and Khasanov and our position are available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
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