Officers from the Center for Countering Extremism and OMON special forces raided the Cabaret nightclub in St. Petersburg on the eve of its 29th anniversary, according to state-owned TV channel 78, the Telegram channel Baza, and TASS, which described the operation as a 'storm' of the venue.
The raid took place on Razyezzhaya Street, where several dozen people were inside. Security forces checked documents and ages, and searched the premises for illegal substances.
According to sources cited by Baza and TASS, the operation was prompted by suspicions of 'LGBT propaganda' and an investigation into 'repeatedly identified cases of monkeypox infection among visitors' — allegedly contracted through same-sex contact in the club's private rooms.
The club's management may face administrative charges. TV channel 78 and Baza noted that Cabaret is considered one of the largest gay clubs in Russia, regularly hosting drag shows. The anniversary celebration had been scheduled for July 3 and 4. The administration has not commented.
The raids follow a November 2023 ruling by Russia's Supreme Court that declared the non-existent 'international LGBT movement' extremist and banned it. Since then, police have regularly targeted venues associated with the queer community.
In late June, a court in Orenburg handed down the first known sentence under the 'extremist LGBT movement' case: three employees of the Pose bar received up to seven years in prison. All pleaded not guilty.