Recognition of same-sex unions in Russia

Russia does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples. Since 2020, the Russian Constitution has explicitly outlawed same-sex marriage.^[1] Statutory Russian laws also contain provisions forbidding same-sex marriages.^[2]

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, several same-sex couples attempted to marry at registry offices in Russia. The first known case occurred in 1994, but the couple were denied a marriage license and later fled to the United States. In 2006, the Constitutional Court of Russia ruled that the statutory ban on same-sex marriage was constitutional. Opinion polls have shown a decline in support for same-sex marriage in Russia. This declining trend has been attributed to anti-gay state propaganda, the 2013 gay propaganda law in particular, and growing anti-Western and traditionalist sentiment in Russia under Vladimir Putin.^[3]

In the case of Fedotova and Others v. Russia, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the Russian Government was violating Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights by not offering any form of legal recognition to same-sex relationships.^[4] However, a lawyer representing the plaintiff couple in this case said it was unlikely that "Russia would implement it".^[5] In addition, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe on 16 March 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine,^[6] and ceased to be a party to the ECHR on 16 September 2022.^[7]

^ Fernández Simon, Maite (23 December 2021). "'A woman is a woman, a man is a man': Putin compares gender nonconformity to the coronavirus pandemic". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
^ Cite error: The named reference code was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference 2012poll was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Fedele, Giulio (23 July 2021). "The (Gay) Elephant in the Room: Is there a Positive Obligation to Legally Recognise Same-Sex Unions after Fedotova v. Russia?". EJIL: Talk!. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
^ Bartenev, Dmitri (16 July 2021). "Will Russia Yield to the ECtHR?". Verfassungsblog. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
^ "The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe - Portal - www.coe.int".
^ "Russia ceases to be party to the European Convention on Human Rights - Portal - www.coe.int".

[1] Fernández Simon, Maite (23 December 2021). "'A woman is a woman, a man is a man': Putin compares gender nonconformity to the coronavirus pandemic". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 December 2021.

[code-2] Cite error: The named reference code was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2012poll-3] Cite error: The named reference 2012poll was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Fedele-4] Fedele, Giulio (23 July 2021). "The (Gay) Elephant in the Room: Is there a Positive Obligation to Legally Recognise Same-Sex Unions after Fedotova v. Russia?". EJIL: Talk!. Retrieved 13 August 2021.

[echr1-5] Bartenev, Dmitri (16 July 2021). "Will Russia Yield to the ECtHR?". Verfassungsblog. Retrieved 25 September 2021.

[echr2-6] "The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe - Portal - www.coe.int".

[echr3-7] "Russia ceases to be party to the European Convention on Human Rights - Portal - www.coe.int".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]