Homophobia became Putin's weapon – Yle journalist on life as openly gay in Russia

Yle journalist Erkka Mikkonen has shared his experiences living as an openly gay man in Russia, detailing a pivotal moment during a 2017 press conference where he confronted Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. Mikkonen had questioned the ministry's stance on the persecution of gay people in Chechnya, a region known for its human rights abuses.

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Dear Mr. Kadyrov, the Russian Foreign Ministry's witty spokesperson Maria Zakharova says, addressing the TV cameras and Chechnya's infamous dictator directly.

Zakharova responded by publicly challenging Mikkonen, inviting him to visit Chechnya to "find out if there are homosexuals there or not." She provocatively asked if he was afraid, a moment captured on video and viewed nearly two million times on YouTube. This public confrontation marked a turning point for Mikkonen, who had previously been hesitant to discuss his sexual orientation or his relationship with his partner, Fjodor.

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Your favorite topic, says Zakharova.

"Now I was strongly branded as a homo," Mikkonen recalled. "In that situation, I started to think about why I had wanted to hide the matter, and realized that it made me weaker. I realized that my identity is an asset, and not something I need to hide or be ashamed of." This realization fueled his decision to write a book, "Homo i Putins Ryssland" (Homo in Putin's Russia), which was published nine years later.

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Now there is only one thing left to do: pack your bags. You're not afraid, are you?

Mikkonen described his initial move to Russia in 2009 as feeling "free," with St. Petersburg offering a vibrant atmosphere with gay clubs and activists. However, he noted a significant shift in the social and political climate, particularly after the 2011 parliamentary elections and Vladimir Putin's return to the presidency. The initial indifference towards LGBTQ+ individuals gradually gave way to a more hostile environment, making it increasingly difficult for openly gay people to live without fear.

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Now I was strongly branded as a homo. In that situation, I started to think about why I had wanted to hide the matter, and realized that it made me weaker. I realized that my identity is an asset, and not something I need to hide or be ashamed of.