sexual orientation and gender identity, expressed regret that the State Duma "turned prejudice against LGBTs into law."

A legal opinion issued on June 15 by the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe's advisory panel on constitutional matters, concluded that draft legislation banning "propaganda for homosexuality" is "incompatible with [the European Convention on Human Rights] and international human rights standards" and should be repealed. The opinion, which covered draft legislation under consideration in Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova, found that the purpose of such laws "is not so much to advance and promote traditional values and attitudes towards family and sexuality but rather to curtail non-traditional ones by punishing their expression and promotion."

The draft law is among many initiatives aimed at restricting Russia's civil society and reviving the concept of "traditionalAdministrative Violations. It would impose heavy monetary fines for promotion information about "non-traditional sexual relations" among minors.

Although the draft does not define "non-traditional sexual relations," it is widely understood in Russia to mean lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships.

Russia is obligated to protect the right to be free from discrimination and the rights to freedom of assembly, association, and expression under the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, among many others.

"This draft law is profoundly unjust and makes the crackdown in Russia even more severe," Reid said. "Russia's international partners should urge the government to ensure fundamental freedoms for everyone."