On March 3, 2026, the St. Petersburg City Court granted the claim filed by the regional office of the Ministry of Justice and recognized the LGBT advocacy group “Vykhod” an extremist group. The organization's activities are now officially banned throughout Russia.
The trial took place in offline mode, since the case files were classified "Confidential". The court's ruling was a continuation of a policy that began in November 2023, when the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation designated the "international LGBT social movement" as extremist and banned it.
What kind of organization is this?
"Vykhod" (St. Petersburg LGBT Initiative Group "Vykhod") — is a human rights organization founded in April 2008 to fight for equal rights for citizens regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
What the organization did:
- Provided free psychological, legal, and career assistance.
- She worked to defend media outlets, NGOs, and business representatives who had been affected by censorship laws.
Persecution and Prohibition:
In 2021, the Ministry of Justice added “Vykhod” to the registry of unregistered public associations that perform the functions of a “foreign agent.”
On March 3, 2026, the St. Petersburg City Court, acting on a lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Justice, ruled that the movement an extremist group.
The director of the organization is — Alexander Voronov. In the summer of 2025, the first case of its kind in St. Petersburg was filed against him criminal case for violating the regulations governing the activities of a foreign agent. Prior to this, Voronov had repeatedly been subjected to administrative fines and arrests under similar charges.
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