Russia to deport two Tajik men for wearing women’s clothes to market

A Moscow court has jailed two Tajik citizens for 10 days after they showed up at the city’s Sadovod market wearing women's clothing, the independent outlet Ostorozhno, Novosti reports. The men will be deported from Russia after serving their sentence.

According to the outlet, two vendors, identified as Khasanchon R. and Yorgibegi M., arrived at the market on the evening of 18 August. Customers reportedly took notice of their women's clothing, though the report did not specify what they were wearing. Police detained the men within 10 minutes.

Both vendors were charged with spreading “LGBT propaganda”. Authorities claim their appearance was “aimed at shaping non-traditional sexual attitudes” and demonstrated “freedom of choice”. The men were sentenced to 10 days behind bars, after which they will be deported, despite having children living in Russia. They will await deportation at Moscow’s Sakharovo migration detention centre.