Femboy Candidate Daniil Neonov Charged With "LGBT Propaganda" Immediately After Arrest

Daniil Neonov, a candidate for municipal deputy in Moscow’s Schukino district, has been subjected to a “carousel arrest.” According to the human rights project First Department, immediately after serving 10 days of administrative arrest, the young politician was met at the detention center gates by masked operatives and taken to a police station. There, a new protocol for so-called “LGBT propaganda” was drawn up against him, after which he was released.

Neonov, who openly identifies as a femboy, was previously arrested over an election post featuring a rainbow t-shirt, which the court deemed a “display of extremist symbols.” During his initial detention in late July 2026, the candidate reported being beaten by security forces. Due to his time in custody, he failed to collect the necessary signatures to participate in the elections.

According to lawyer Maksim Olenichev, issuing one protocol after another is a method of pressuring independent candidates to hinder their political activities. Neonov now faces another court hearing.