Russian Court Blocks Inmate's Request for Gender-Affirming Medical Care

A Russian court has rejected a lawsuit from a convicted inmate seeking gender-affirming medical treatment. The Soviet District Court of Vladivostok refused to accept the case against the Federal Penal Correction Institution Medical Unit No. 25. The plaintiff had requested access to hormonal and surgical feminisation procedures. The inmate filed the lawsuit to secure the right to paid gender-affirming medical interventions. These included hormonal therapy and surgical procedures to support their transition. The court, however, declined to consider the claim on legal grounds.

In its decision, the court referenced Article 45.1 of Federal Law No. 323-FZ, dated 21 November 2011. This law explicitly bans medical interventions for gender transition in Russia. Exceptions are permitted only in rare cases, such as congenital developmental anomalies, genetic disorders, or endocrine diseases affecting sexual organ formation. Even then, approval must come from a medical board at the relevant healthcare institution. The court ruled that the plaintiff’s case did not meet the strict criteria for exceptions. As a result, the lawsuit was not accepted for further consideration. The decision reinforces the existing legal restrictions on gender-affirming care in the country.