NUS Scotland's LGBT campaign has joined Amnesty International Scotland, Equality Network and the Scottish Youth Parliament in calling on Edinburgh's Lord Provost to use the city's 'twinning arrangement' with St Petersburg to urge authorities not to enact a bill which would threaten freedom of expression and fuel discrimination.
If enacted, the law would allow the authorities to impose fines of up to the equivalent of £1,000 for “public actions aimed at propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality, and transgenderism among minors.”
Under the measure, freedom of assembly and expression for LGBT groups would be prohibited anywhere children might be present. This would rule out nearly all public events carried out by or on behalf of LGBT people and organisations.
The publication of anything relating to LGBT rights or providing assistance or advice - including informative leaflets as well as publications in the media and on the internet - would also be severely curtailed.
Local LGBT rights activists have blasted the law, saying it will provide legal cover for banning any of their actions, including the distribution of information leaflets or even actions against homophobia.
Nathan Sparkling, NUS Scotland's LGBT Officer, said: “Legislation such as this will only further marginalise LGBT people and must be stopped - in St Petersburg and throughout Russia.
"The notion that Russia's youth are somehow being converted through 'propaganda' would be laughable if the repercussions weren't so dangerous."