Russia arrests trans activist for ‘high treason’

Russia’s FSB security service said Thursday it had arrested a transgender rights activist accused of “high treason” for supporting Ukraine, as lawmakers were set to debate a bill banning gender transitions. Authorities “stopped the illegal activities of a Russian citizen, resident of the Oryol region, involved in high treason for providing financial aid to the armed forces of Ukraine”, the FSB said in a statement. The individual was accused of arranging transfers of money to organisations in Ukraine “in order to finance” the Ukrainian army. The crime of high treason is punishable with life imprisonment in Russia. The arrest comes as Russian lawmakers were set on Thursday to proceed with the second reading of a bill that would ban gender transitions.