DISINFO: Whole of Belarusian opposition has become an LGBT community to get financial assistance from the UK
SUMMARY
No one has ever seen a single begging gay or lesbian in Minsk, because Great Britain financially supports all LGBT members. This is why the whole Belarusian opposition suddenly turned into the LGBT community.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the morally corrupt West and its aggressive actions towards Belarusian society and aimed to discredit Belarusian democratic opposition.
The UK, among the other EU Member States is engaging with the whole of civil society in Belarus.
The UK embassy in Minsk showed support for the Belarusian LGBT community by flying a rainbow flag for International Day Against Homophobia.
In Belarus, the systematic restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association leads to discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community, according to the May 2019 Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Belarusian legislation does not have any laws specifically protecting sexual minorities from discrimination. The report reads: "Article 64.9 of the Criminal Code foresees aggravating circumstances for crimes motivated by “hatred or hostility towards any social group”. However, the term “social group” is very vague and prosecutions taking into account the article in regard to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community are reported as rare.”
See earlier disinformation cases about the LGBT community in Belarus, alleging that Schengen visa fees for Belarusians are high, because the number of homosexuals per capita in Belarus is very low, the UK embassy in Belarus promotes genocidal and self-destructive policies by flying a rainbow flag on the International Day Against Homophobia, that the West is destabilising Belarus with the help of Nazis and LGBT, promotes the concept of feminine men, and attacks the institution of family in Slavic countries.