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9th Grader Accused of Gay Propaganda

A ninth grader in the Bryansk region has become the first minor to be accused under Russia's anti-gay propaganda law, a news report said.

Last November a girl "openly declared herself to be a person of nontraditional sexual orientation," the local minors' commission said, Znak.com reported. The town's location was not revealed to protect the girl's identity.

During this time, the girl "disseminated information aimed at forming a distorted picture among juveniles of the social equality of traditional and nontraditional sexual relations," the commission said.

As the girl did not sexually assault anyone, authorities decided that the criminal case against her would be dropped, though she will be placed under the supervision of the local juvenile commission.

Russia's anti-gay propaganda law was introduced last June and bans the promotion of nontraditional relations to minors. Punishments for individuals range up to 5,000 ruble ($142) fines.

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