The Russian LGBT Network has invited President Dmitry Medvedev to propose a legislative initiative that would amend the penal code establishing liability for hate crimes toward gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders.

Specifically mentioned was the addition of direct references to sexual orientation and gender identity to several articles of the Russian Federation Criminal Code (Articles: 63 Section "e", 105 part 2 of subsection "l", 111 part 2 of subsection "e", 112 part 2 of subsection "e", 117 part 2 of subsection "z", 224 part 2 of subsection "b", 136, 282).

If these proposed amendments are passed, the courts would have to consider the commission of crimes motivated by hate or hostility toward gays, lesbians, bisexuals or transgenders as an aggravating circumstance. Moreover, law enforcement agencies would no longer be able to refuse to institute criminal proceedings against persons publicly insulting the human dignity of these groups.

"Government and society need to equally condemn attempts to incite hostility toward any minority group - whether racial, ethnic, religious or sexual minorities. Recently, we have repeatedly witnessed unduly lenient sentences of murderers who killed only because they did not like the sexual orientation of their victims.

Also, investigating authorities and courts are completely unresponsive to public appeals for isolation, "treatment" and even destruction of homosexuals. Such practices must be stopped on a legislative level," declared the chairman of the Interregional Public Movement of the Russian LGBT Network, Igor Kochetkov.

Translated by Timothy Grishin