Recognition of same-sex unions in Russia

Legal status of same-sex unions
Marriage
Performed

Argentina
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Colombia
Denmark:
· Denmark proper
· Greenland
Finland*
France
Iceland
Ireland
Luxembourg
Mexico:
· CM, CH, CA,
· CL, GR3, JA,
· MC, MR, NA,
· PU3, QE3,
· QR, CDMX

Netherlands:
· Netherlands proper
New Zealand:
· New Zealand proper
Norway
Portugal
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom:
· England and Wales
· Scotland
· AX and DX, AC*, BAT
· GI, GG*, IM, PN
United States:
· United States proper
· GU, MP, PR, VI
· some tribal jurisdictions
Uruguay

Recognized

  1. When performed in Mexican states that have legalized same-sex marriage
  2. When performed in the Netherlands proper
  3. Marriages performed in some municipalities and recognized by the state

* Not yet in effect

LGBT portal

Russia recognizes neither same-sex marriage nor any other form of civil union for same-sex couples. However, gay activists claim that a same-sex marriage contracted abroad can legally be recognized in Russia . Russian laws stipulate several provisions which prevent the recognition of legal foreign marriages in Russia and a marriage entered into by two persons of the same sex is not one of them.[1]

Attitude of Russians towards same-sex marriage

According to the majority of the former republics of the Soviet Union, support for legal recognition of same-sex couples is very limited, and as of 2009, the government has yet to signal any signs of support for such legislation.

In 2005, two polls have been conducted in Russia on the issue of same sex marriage. None of the research covered the support for civil union. While, they both give similar results they were conducted by different polling institutes:

Same-sex marriage campaign in Russia

A photo taken during the attempt to register a same sex marriage in Moscow, Russia on May 12, 2009.
A photo taken on August 26, 2009 outside the Moscow Tverskoy District Court after the hearing of the Marriage Case of Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shipitko.
A photo taken on August 26, 2009 in the studio of the Radio Russian News Service

In April 2009, Nikolai Alekseev launched a campaign for same sex marriage in Russia. He had previously stated in 2005 and again in 2008 that his LGBT Human Rights Project Gayrussia.ru is ready to help a genuine gay or lesbian couples who want to get its family and marriage rights respected in Russia.[3]

On May 12, 2009, a lesbian couple, Irina Fedotova (Fet) and Irina Shipitko applied for marriage at the Tverskoy Office for the Registration of Civil Acts (ZAGS) in the centre of Moscow. The couple's appeal to the Court said: "The Russian Constitution and family laws do not prohibit same-sex marriages." The lesbian couple declared to The New York Times: "We have love, we have happiness, we want to be together for our whole lives and we want to do this here in Russia." [4][5]

It was done during the upcoming Slavic Pride and also upcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2009, both scheduled on May 16 in Moscow. The 2009 edition of Moscow Pride, renamed as Slavic Pride, took place under the motto "Gay equality - no compromise", postulating the right to adopt children and same-sex marriage.[6] The location of the protest was changed at the last moment to the Vorobyovy Gory viewpoint near Moscow State University, a popular spot for wedding photographs. This location underlined the motto of the protest.[7] The couple received a written denial from Svetlana Potamyshneva, head of the office, who denied to register the marriage stating that “Point 3 of Article 1 of the Family Code of Russia stipulates that the regulation of family relations must adhere to the principle of a voluntary union between a man and a woman”. In June 2009, the couple appealed to the Tverskoy District Court against the written denial they received from the Marriage office. Their claim stated: "The Russian Constitution and family laws do not prohibit same-sex marriages. In addition, family and marriage rights, including those same-sex, are guaranteed with Articles 8 and 12 of the European Human Rights Convention ratified by the Russian Federation". The Court hearing scheduled on August 26, 2009 was postponed to September 9, 2009 and later, October 6, 2009.[8][9][10] The Court upheld the decision of the Tverskoy ZAGS and rejected the arguments of the couple. Nikolai Alekseev told journalists that the case will be appealed up to Supreme Court and to the European Court of Human Rights. Caroline Mecary -a French lawyer who defend a French gay couple in a similar case at the European Court, said in June 2009 that she will take the case of the Russian couple to Strasbourg. Nikolai Alekseev, who acted as the lawyer of the lesbian couple, told the journalist that his organization will help the couple to legally register their marriage in Canada in October 2009 and later seek its legal recognition in Russia.[11] [12] [13]

The couple has announced their intent to marry in Toronto, Canada on 23 October 2009, where same-sex marriage is opened for non-residents and later pursue legal recognition of their union from the Russian government.

The couple entered into same-sex marriage as planned on October 23. The ceremony was celebrated by first Canadian openly gay Judge Harvey Brownstone. Numerous media and local activists were present at the ceremony during which Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shipitko exchanged vows. The newly wed couple received their marriage certificate which they intend to use upon their return to Russia to have their Canadian marriage also recognized in their home country. While the Family Code limits marriage to opposite-sex couples in Russia, there is a loophole in terms of the recognition of foreign marriages, where the basis of gender is not specified. The couple together with their lawyer Nikolai Alekseev as well as local activists hosted a press conference at the Toronto City Hall before the ceremony during which Canadian gay activists spoke about their struggle for marriage equality stressing the importance of supporting similar movements in other countries, including Russia.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

On 21 January 2010, the Moscow City Court upheld the decision of the Tverskoy District Court of 6 October 2009.[23][24][25] In July 2010 Irina Fedotova (Fet) and Irina Shipitko launched their complaint against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights.[26]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to same-sex marriage in Russia.

References

  1. ↑ "Public opinion poll: Majority of Russians oppose gay marriages and a gay President, but support a ban on sexual orientation discrimination.". Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  2. ↑ "Same-sex marriage nixed by Russians". Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  3. ↑ "European Court of Human Rights Rejects Right to Sham Same-Sex Marriage in Russia". Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  4. ↑ Schwirtz, Michael (2009-05-13). "In Moscow, an Attempt to Wed Pushes Gay Rights". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  5. ↑ Galpin, Richard (2009-05-14). "Violence feared over Moscow gay march". BBC News. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "Russia to Gays: Get Back into the Closet". Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  7. ↑ "Police Forcefully Break Up Gay Rights Protest". Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  8. ↑ "Russian lesbian couple go to court over right to marry". Pink News. 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  9. ↑ "Drama in Moscow court over lesbian marriage". ABC News. Associated Press. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  10. ↑ "Gay marriage court case sparks kisses and clashes". The Star. Toronto. 2009-08-27. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
  11. ↑ "Russia Court Throws Out Lesbian Couple Marriage Request". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  12. ↑ "Russian court blocks same-sex wedding". CBC News. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  13. ↑ "Moscow court finds refusal to register same-sex marriage". Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  14. ↑ "Two Russian Women Seek Marriage in Moscow, Ready for External Lawsuit". Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  15. ↑ "Russian Lesbian Couple Denied Marriage License". ABC News. Associated Press. 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  16. ↑ "Lesbians to attempt first gay marriage in Russia". Reuters. May 6, 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  17. ↑ "Russian lesbians denied country's first gay marriage". Reuters. 2009-05-12. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  18. ↑ "Russian Lesbian Couple just married in Toronto. The couple intends to start a legal battle to have their union recognized in Russia". Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  19. ↑ "Russian lesbians tie the knot in Toronto". Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  20. ↑ Aulakh, Raveena; Balkissoon, Denise. "From Russia, to get married". The Star. Toronto. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  21. ↑ "Russian women get married in Toronto". Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  22. ↑ "Russian lesbians travel to Toronto to wed". Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  23. ↑ "Court upholds rejection of Russia's first lesbian marriage". Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  24. ↑ "Moscow court rules refusal to register same-sex marriage legal". Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  25. ↑ "Moscow City Court turns down lesbians' complaint". Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  26. ↑ Russian lesbian couple denied right to tie knot in Moscow
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