Russian court cancels a transgender woman’s gender transition and annuls her marriage
In one of the regions of the Urals, a court, acting on a prosecutor’s claim, annulled the gender transition of a transgender woman named Yulia, restored “male” in her documents, and declared her marriage invalid, Verstka writes.
This is the first known case in Russia where the authorities have used a court to “reverse” a gender marker change that had already been legally recognized by the state. The prosecutor also demands that Yulia be sent to a men’s prison for crimes she committed at the age of 18 — despite the fact that a court had already given her a suspended sentence.
According to lawyer Elvira, who is involved in the case, the ruling sets a dangerous precedent:
“The state cancels your entire life. It’s terrifying. The very concept of this court is repressive in its essence.”
Yulia underwent a medical commission in 2022, officially changed her name and gender marker, and later got married. However, the prosecutor argued that the gender transition was “illegal” because no surgery had taken place, and filed a lawsuit “in the interests of the Russian Federation.”
The court sided with the prosecutor: Yulia has been formally recognized as male, and her marriage has been annulled. Her defense team is now preparing an appeal.
Human rights defenders warn that Yulia’s case could set a precedent for mass revocations of gender marker changes in documents for transgender people across the country.
Here is a quote from Yulia’s statement to the court:
“In 2021 I committed crimes. At that time, I was only eighteen, I felt very lonely and was trying to get the attention of others. I fully admitted guilt under all charges. However, my gender transition and marriage do not in any way violate the interests of the Russian Federation. I respectfully ask the Court not to destroy my life and my family.”
This is the first known case in Russia where the authorities have used a court to “reverse” a gender marker change that had already been legally recognized by the state. The prosecutor also demands that Yulia be sent to a men’s prison for crimes she committed at the age of 18 — despite the fact that a court had already given her a suspended sentence.
According to lawyer Elvira, who is involved in the case, the ruling sets a dangerous precedent:
“The state cancels your entire life. It’s terrifying. The very concept of this court is repressive in its essence.”
Yulia underwent a medical commission in 2022, officially changed her name and gender marker, and later got married. However, the prosecutor argued that the gender transition was “illegal” because no surgery had taken place, and filed a lawsuit “in the interests of the Russian Federation.”
The court sided with the prosecutor: Yulia has been formally recognized as male, and her marriage has been annulled. Her defense team is now preparing an appeal.
Human rights defenders warn that Yulia’s case could set a precedent for mass revocations of gender marker changes in documents for transgender people across the country.
Here is a quote from Yulia’s statement to the court:
“In 2021 I committed crimes. At that time, I was only eighteen, I felt very lonely and was trying to get the attention of others. I fully admitted guilt under all charges. However, my gender transition and marriage do not in any way violate the interests of the Russian Federation. I respectfully ask the Court not to destroy my life and my family.”