A Russian court fined Facebook and Instagram parent firm Meta on Tuesday for refusing to remove LBGT material.

According to news agency Interfax, a Moscow district court ordered the US tech firm to pay four million rubles (about $53,000/50,000 euros) for failing to erase content with LGBT “propaganda.”

Russia often punishes Meta and other digital companies for failing to delete content at the behest of authorities.

Russia has increased its pressure on social media since the commencement of its military operation in Ukraine, blocking Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

In Russia, where conservative and religious sectors hold a negative opinion of the LGBT population, attacks against the community are rather common.

In 2013, Moscow approved a contentious rule prohibiting children from being exposed to LGBT “propaganda.” It was used to prohibit pride marches and rainbow flag displays.

The constitution has stated that marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman since 2020, essentially prohibiting homosexual marriage.

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