All of Anton Krasovsky’s friends and colleagues knew he was gay. But when he announced it on live television, it caused a sensation. The presenter, who had made a successful career onstate television channels before being appointed editor-in-chief of a new Kremlin-funded internet broadcaster, was no marginalised liberal; he was very much part of the system. But with his words, he had crossed a red line.

In January, LGBT activists (right) scuffled with members of patriotic organisations during a picket against the so-called “homophobic law” outside the State Duma building in Moscow. The State Duma is set to review amendments in the Administrative Code article banning the so-called “propaganda of homosexuality.”u00a0AFP Photo