Ravny exists to advance the rights, safety, and dignity of LGBTQ+ people across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. We bring the realities of life under homophobic and repressive regimes to the attention of English-speaking audiences—policymakers, journalists, civil society leaders, and the wider public—whose influence can drive change.
We amplify grassroots voices and build cross-border solidarity to protect those most at risk, including LGBTQ+ communities facing persecution, violence, or legal discrimination. By linking local realities to global advocacy, we help turn awareness into lasting change.
about
the team
Philipp Smirnov
Filipp graduated from Central European University (Vienna) and the Higher School of Economics (Moscow). Before joining Ravny, he was Content Manager at Sfera, one of Russia's largest LGBTQ+ NGOs, where he helped launch GenQpride 2025, a Pride campaign and community hub for equality.
Karina Annenkova
Karina is a South Caucasus expert at Ravny. She holds an LLM from the Freie Universität in Berlin and an LLB from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. At Ravny, she develops and researches advocacy strategies aimed at advancing LGBTQ+ rights in Armenia and the wider region.
Semyon Sokolov
Semyon is a University of Cambridge graduate and a junior expert at the New Eurasian Strategies (NEST) Centre. He founded Ravny to advance LGBTQ+ justice in Russia by confronting homophobia, documenting persecution, and restoring erased voices to the public record.