St. Petersburg, Russia – Maxim Tesli, a Russian singer, has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for violating the country’s LGBTQ+ propaganda laws. The arrest came after Tesli performed a show wearing nothing but a sock on his genitals. Reports suggest that he was planning to leave Russia amidst increasing calls for his arrest, following the viral spread of a video of his performance.
After being detained at a St. Petersburg airport on Monday night, Tesli appeared in court the following day. He was charged with petty hooliganism and subsequently sentenced to 10 days in jail. This incident follows a previous case where rapper Nikolai Vasilyev, also known as Vacio, was jailed for 15 days and fined for a similar act at a party in Moscow.
In November, Russia’s supreme court effectively deemed LGBTQ+ activism to be “extremist” by designating the “international public LGBT movement” as such, despite its non-existence. Human rights groups, both within Russia and internationally, have strongly criticized these “gay propaganda laws.” Igor Kochetkov, the head of the Russian LGBT Network, argues that these laws will essentially make queer activism impossible in the future.
Furthermore, Russia has implemented additional laws that ban gender-affirming procedures for transgender individuals. The country prohibits medical interventions aimed at changing a person’s sex.
It is important to note that Tesli’s motive for the controversial performance remains unclear. However, the repercussions and criticism surrounding the incident underscore the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia.
In summary, Maxim Tesli, a Russian singer, has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for violating Russia’s LGBTQ+ propaganda laws. The arrest came after Tesli performed a show wearing only a sock on his genitals. This incident reflects the broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ activism in Russia, as well as the country’s recent implementation of laws restricting gender-affirming procedures. Human rights groups have condemned these laws, and argue that they effectively hinder any future queer activism.