LGBT Rights in Chechnya Republic

    Homosexuality
    ✖ Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Banned
    Censorship
    ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Illegal
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✖ Banned
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    Unknown
    Military
    ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    N/A
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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Chechnya

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Homosexual activity in Chechnya is illegal (death penalty as punishment).

Current status
Since 1996
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
Homosexuality became legal in every Russian federal subject in 1993, except for Chechnya.

While Chechnya does not have an official law dictating what to do against LGBTQ+ people, openly LGBTQ+ people will either get arrested, or possibly killed. Chechen police will participate in "honor killings" towards anyone who demonstrates homosexual activity or activism for queer rights.

Same-sex marriage in Chechnya

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Same-sex marriage in Chechnya is banned.

Current status
Since Jul 1, 2020
Banned under federal Russia law
The federal laws of Russia do not allow for same-sex unions of any kind, and the Russian constitution has defined marriage as a union strictly between a man and woman since 2020.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Chechnya

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Chechnya is imprisonment as punishment.

Current status
Since Nov 30, 2023
Imprisonment as punishment under federal Russia law
On November 30, 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court ruled the “international LGBT movement” to be an extremist organization, effectively outlawing all LGBT organizations, social movements and their activities. Under Russia's anti-extremism laws, participating in or financing an extremist organization is punishable by up to 12 years in prison. Those found guilty of displaying such groups’ symbols, which now include the LGBT rainbow flag, can face up to 15 days in detention for the first offense and up to four years in prison for a repeat offense.

In March 2024, two employees of a gay club in Russia were arrested and held in pre-trial detention on suspicion that they were running an 'extremist organization', after the club was raided by authorities earlier that month. If found guilty, they could face up to ten years in prison.
Jun 11, 2013–Nov 30, 2023
Fine as punishment under federal Russia law
In 2013, Russia introduced a law known as "for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values" (also known as the "gay propaganda law") which bans the dissemination of “propaganda for nontraditional sexual relationships,” broadly understood to be lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships, among under-18s. According to the Russian government, this law is aimed to "protect" children from being exposed to homosexuality, since it goes against "traditional family values."

People found guilty of breaking the law face fines of between 4,000 and 5,000 rubles; government officials face fines of 40,000 to 50,000 rubles; and organizations, up to 1 million rubles or a suspension of activity for up to 90 days. Heavier fines may be imposed for the same actions if the act was carried out using mass media and telecommunications, including the Internet. Foreigners can be arrested and detained for up to 15 days (or fined up to 5,000 rubles) and then deported.

In December 2022, Russia expanded the law to cover all ages, instead of only minors, effectively making any display or mention of LGBT relationships and lifestyles on public platforms illegal. The penalties were also increased, with individuals now facing fines of up to 400,000 rubles; and organizations, up to 5 million rubles. The dissemination of materials promoting gender dysphoria among minors was also banned.

Right to change legal gender in Chechnya

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Right to change legal gender in Chechnya is illegal.

Current status
Since Jul 24, 2023
Illegal under federal Russia law
The upper house of Russia’s parliament unanimously approved a bill outlawing gender-affirming care and legal gender change. It also annuls marriages in which one person has “changed gender” and bars transgender people from becoming foster or adoptive parents.
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Current status
Since Jul 19, 2023
Illegal
The upper house of Russia’s parliament unanimously approved a bill outlawing gender-affirming care and legal gender change. It also annuls marriages in which one person has “changed gender” and bars transgender people from becoming foster or adoptive parents.
Sources:
www.pressenterprise.com/2023/07/19/the-upper-house-of-russian-parliament-approves-a-ban-on-gender-changes/
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Nov 15, 1997–Jul 24, 2023
Legal, but requires surgery under federal Russia law
Transgender people are able to change their gender on identification documents after being issued a document from a health institution confirming the surgical requirements.
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May 31, 2023–Jun 17, 2023
Ambiguous
A bill to make gender change illegal was proposed, and it will probably pass.
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Jan 19, 2018–May 30, 2023
Legal, no restrictions
Under the 2018 revision by the Ministry of Health, a medical commision can issue a certificate of gender change without the need for surgery or hormone replacement therapy.
Nov 15, 19972018
Legal, but requires surgery
Transgender people are able to change their gender on identification documents after being issued a document from a health institution confirming the surgical requirements.
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Apr 5, 1972–Nov 5, 1997
Legal, but requires surgery
after the sex reassignment surgery that took place in September 17, 1970, a transgender man changed his legal gender and name.
Six months after change legal gender, he became a husband.
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Gender-affirming care in Chechnya

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Gender-affirming care in Chechnya is banned.

Current status
Since Jul 24, 2023
Banned under federal Russia law
On July 24th, 2023, Vladimir Putin signed legislation into law that bans “medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person.”

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Chechnya

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Chechnya is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
There's no third gender recognition.
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LGBT discrimination in Chechnya

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LGBT discrimination in Chechnya is no protections.

Current status
Since 1993
No protections
No protection against discrimination.

LGBT employment discrimination in Chechnya

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LGBT employment discrimination in Chechnya is no protections.

Current status
No protections
Article 3 of the Labour Code prohibits employment discrimination but does not explicitly mention sexual
orientation or gender identity. Several prominent people including a TV news anchor have been fired for coming out, although some people have successfully challenged discriminatory dismissal.

LGBT housing discrimination in Chechnya

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LGBT housing discrimination in Chechnya is no protections.

Current status
Since Jul 29, 2013
No protections
LGBT people have no protection from discrimination.
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Same-sex adoption in Chechnya

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Same-sex adoption in Chechnya is single only.

Current status
Since Jul 24, 2023
Single only under federal Russia law
Single homosexuals are allowed to adopt, but banned for transgender people.
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Current status
Since Jul 24, 2023
Single only
Single homosexuals are allowed to adopt, but banned for transgender people.
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Jul 2, 2013–Jul 19, 2023
Single only
Adoption is being regulated by the Civil Procedure Code of Russia (Chapter 29); Family Code of Russia (Chapter 19); Federal Law On Acts of Civil Status (Chapter V). None of these documents contain any direct restriction or ban for homosexual people to ado
Until Jul 2, 2013
Illegal
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Wednesday banning the adoption of children by same-sex couples, as part of an increasingly conservative agenda the Kremlin is pursuing since his return to power.
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Intersex infant surgery in Chechnya

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Intersex infant surgery in Chechnya is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in Chechnya

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Serving openly in military in Chechnya is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Current status
Since Jul 1, 2003
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
Open homosexuals still serve in the military.

Blood donations by MSMs in Chechnya

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Blood donations by MSMs in Chechnya is legal.

Current status
Since Apr 16, 2008
Legal

Legal
In 2008, Russia repealed its ban against gay people donating blood. The law was signed in effect on April 16, 2008 by Tatyana Golikova, the minister of Russia's Health and Social Development department
Sep 14, 2001–Apr 16, 2008
Banned (indefinite deferral)
On September 14, 2001, the Russian Ministry of Health announced that men who have sex with men would be considered part of the "HIV high-risk groups," along with prostitutes and drug addicts.

Conversion therapy in Chechnya

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Conversion therapy in Chechnya is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Not condemned. As well their is still the attitude that homosexuality is a disease.
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Equal age of consent in Chechnya

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Equal age of consent in Chechnya is n/a.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1997
N/A
In Chechnya, the age of consent is irrelevant since homosexuality is illegal.
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