Russia LBGT Community
People sing the Russian national anthem and raise the rainbow Russian flags in solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of Russia, as part of a film project called "Live and Let Love", at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, Oct. 6, 2013. Reuters

KEY POINTS

  • An administrative case has been filed against Dagestan-based designer Elnara Askerova
  • Her boutique held a fashion show that included men wearing makeup last month
  • A man seemingly after the establishment's location could be interested in the space

A designer in Dagestan, one of Russia's 22 republics, is facing charges over "LGBT propaganda," according to reports.

An administrative case was opened against designer Elnara Askerova in Dagestan's capital, Makhachkala, in connection to a fashion show held last month in her Gray House boutique, Kavkaz.Realii reported.

The event coincided with the establishment's opening, according to the outlet, which is part of the United States government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty media organization.

It included men who posed as androgynous persons, The Insider reported.

While the closed-door event mostly involved Askerova's friends and acquaintances, a passerby saw the fashion show through a window and posted a video on the internet.

The costumes and makeup that the young men who were part of the event wore reportedly caused outrage among the conservative public.

A case under Article 6.21 of Russia's Code of Administrative Offenses has since been drawn up against Askerova despite her having nothing to do with the publication of the video.

The designer's case was opened for her supposed "LGBT propaganda" among minors.

Makhachkala Soviet District Court will hear Askerova's case Friday.

She faces a fine of up to 100,000 rubles ($1,650).

No minors were present at the October fashion show, the crisis management group SK SOS, which provided Askerova with a lawyer, said.

The passerby who made the video could be interested in the space that Askerova's boutique occupied, the designer claimed.

The owner of the property terminated the contract with Askerova after the latter was slapped with a case.

Askerova and other participants of the show also supposedly started receiving threats and demands to "apologize to Muslims" following the video's release.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Biysultan Khamzaev, a deputy of Russia's lower house, the State Duma, called them "outlaws."

"[T]heir heads would have been chopped off long ago [in an unlawful state]," Khamzaev was quoted as saying by the independent Russian outlet The Insider.

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The State Duma passed the law banning "propaganda" of LGBT, pedophilia and sex change in advertisements, books, movies and media during the bill's third and final reading Thursday.

Russian deputies have been violating the law themselves, The Insider found.

Homophobia is widespread in Russia where reports of rights violations and attacks on LGBT people are common, though there are gay scenes in major cities
Homophobia is widespread in Russia where reports of rights violations and attacks on LGBT people are common, though there are gay scenes in major cities AFP / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV