Many people in the West — including me — have criticized Russia for its anti-gay laws and for the increase in attacks on LGBT people in the country.

Today, there are reports that Maxim Sergeyevich Martsinkevich, the anti-gay “extremist” leader of an alleged gang called Occupy Paedophilia, has been sentenced to five years in a penal colony for his part in torturing gay teenagers. And, Pink News is reporting, other members of the gang will go to trial next month.

Most of the readers who made comments (so far) to the Pink News article don’t feel the penalty imposed on Martsinkevich is tough enough. But I think the penalty is better than nothing. And I don’t think that five years in a Russian penal colony is anything to joke about.

– Jillian