The LGBT folks I wrote about earlier today were not exaggerating. Under the pretext of a drug raid, the Moscow police— just one day after the new, onerous “family values” legislation was pushed through the Duma in record time — on Friday invaded three popular gay clubs where private parties were being held, taking the time before they were finished to photograph every patron’s official ID.

Eyewitnesses said that “In the middle of the party, they stopped the music and [the police] started entering the halls.” [Darya Tarasova, Gul Tuysuz and Jen Deaton, CNN, Dec. 4, 2023, citing Ostorozhno Moskva media outlet.] In a video from the same source, another eyewitness described the scene thus:

“I was there. I honestly sh** myself when the music stopped and they said there was a police raid. I thought that was it, I would be imprisoned for 12 years. On the way out, they took a photo of my passport [ID]. So you understand, 300 of us stood naked, in only underwear, and waited for somebody to bring us clothes, and no one understood what was happening.”

The image of that deliberately demoralizing police action gives new meaning to the term “strip search.”

*. *. *

Also on Friday, the Central Station Club — a gay club in St. Petersburg — announced its closure. The club’s management said they had been refused further rental of their premises due to the “new law.” In a truly law-based society, that’s called eviction . . . without just cause.

The speed with which these actions were planned and carried out following implementation of a law that, just days ago, was still “in progress,” is mind-boggling. There is nothing even remotely spontaneous about it; it was meticulously planned, down to the last detail. And there is no doubt that this is just the beginning.

So now the Rainbow Flag may no longer be flown in Russia. And I would hesitate to play “Over the Rainbow” too loudly, just in case anyone’s listening. Your life — including the most personal parts of it — is no longer your own. And an entire stratum of Russian society is being chased out of the country, taking with them their skills, their talents, and their money. And for what? To further solidify central control, while also satisfying the standards of “morality” of one pathetic little man sitting in isolation in the Kremlin? Are you really satisfied now, President Putin?

Or are you already working on your next victims?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/4/23