These proceedings concern a state’s response to attacks, perpetrated by private individuals, which were allegedly motivated by bias against sexual and gender minorities. All attacks took place during, or in the vicinity of, planned public demonstrations by members of Russia’s LGBT+ community. The Trust does not comment on the facts of the cases, but seeks to make submissions which are relevant to the circumstances.

The joined applications in these proceedings concern alleged failures by the State Party to protect the applicants against acts of violence by third parties. They raise the issue of whether the authorities have complied with their positive obligation, within the meaning of Article 3 of the Convention, to prevent such violence and to prosecute those responsible for it.

On 9 March 2018, the Equal Rights Trust submitted a third party intervention in the case of Romanov v Russia (App Nos: 58358/14, 7146/15, and 25887/15), concerning a state’s response to attacks, perpetrated by private individuals, which were allegedly motivated by bias against sexual and gender minorities.