Entry #16: Equal age of consent in Russia

Current Version

Region	Russia
Issue	Equal age of consent
Status	Equal
Start Date	1996
End Date	(none)
Description	The age of consent in the Russian Federation is 16 years old and has applied equally to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation since 27 May 1993. Following the enactment of Law No. 4892-I (which repealed Article 121 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and officially entered into force on 27 May 1993), same-sex relations were integrated under standard criminal law statutes. Under Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (No. 63-FZ), consensual sexual activity involving a person who has reached the age of 16 is not subject to criminal prosecution, with no legal or procedural distinction, differential age threshold, or higher age limit ever applied to same-sex relations since the 1993 decriminalization
Sources	http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian) https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/day-inside-gay-chechnya/story?id=66509855
Federal Law	Yes

Revision History (21)

1 hour ago

edited by EqLawyer. Reverting to the verified legal status. Claiming that the equal age of consent in Russia is unknown or ambiguous based on the situation in Chechnya is completely absurd. Article 134 of the Federal Criminal Code applies uniformly across the entire Russian Federation, including Chechnya, setting an equal age of consent at 16 with zero statutory distinction based on sexual orientation. Conflating local extrajudicial actions with codified federal criminal law is a total misrepresentation of statutory status and severely misleads readers about how federal law operates.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value (Current)
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Special Status	Varies by Region	Equal
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.	The age of consent in the Russian Federation is 16 years old and has applied equally to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation since 27 May 1993. Following the enactment of Law No. 4892-I (which repealed Article 121 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and officially entered into force on 27 May 1993), same-sex relations were integrated under standard criminal law statutes. Under Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (No. 63-FZ), consensual sexual activity involving a person who has reached the age of 16 is not subject to criminal prosecution, with no legal or procedural distinction, differential age threshold, or higher age limit ever applied to same-sex relations since the 1993 decriminalization
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there. Russian Federation is 16 years old and has applied equally to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation since 27 May 1993. Following the enactment of Law No. 4892-I (which repealed Article 121 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and officially entered into force on 27 May 1993), same-sex relations were integrated under standard criminal law statutes. Under Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (No. 63-FZ), consensual sexual activity involving a person who has reached the age of 16 is not subject to criminal prosecution, with no legal or procedural distinction, differential age threshold, or higher age limit ever applied to same-sex relations since the 1993 decriminalization
Federal Law	No	Yes

1 day ago

edited by UnknownMiles. Reverting to revision #62793: Chechnya

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Equal	Varies by Region
Description	The age of consent in the Russian Federation is 16 years old and has applied equally to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation since 27 May 1993. Following the enactment of Law No. 4892-I (which repealed Article 121 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and officially entered into force on 27 May 1993), same-sex relations were integrated under standard criminal law statutes. Under Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (No. 63-FZ), consensual sexual activity involving a person who has reached the age of 16 is not subject to criminal prosecution, with no legal or procedural distinction, differential age threshold, or higher age limit ever applied to same-sex relations since the 1993 decriminalization.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in the Russian Federation is 16 years old and has applied equally to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation since 27 May 1993. Following the enactment of Law No. 4892-I (which repealed Article 121 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and officially entered into force on 27 May 1993), same-sex relations were integrated under standard criminal law statutes. Under Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (No. 63-FZ), consensual sexual activity involving a person who has reached the age of 16 is not subject to criminal prosecution, with no legal or procedural distinction, differential age threshold, or higher age limit ever applied to same-sex relations since the 1993 decriminalization. Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.
Sources	http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&nd=102041891 https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/8eed35/pdf/	http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian) https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/day-inside-gay-chechnya/story?id=66509855
Sources	Show Difference http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&nd=102041891 https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/8eed35/pdf/ http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian) https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/day-inside-gay-chechnya/story?id=66509855

5 days ago

edited by EqLawyer. Clarification of information

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Special Status	Varies by Region	Equal
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.	The age of consent in the Russian Federation is 16 years old and has applied equally to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation since 27 May 1993. Following the enactment of Law No. 4892-I (which repealed Article 121 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and officially entered into force on 27 May 1993), same-sex relations were integrated under standard criminal law statutes. Under Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (No. 63-FZ), consensual sexual activity involving a person who has reached the age of 16 is not subject to criminal prosecution, with no legal or procedural distinction, differential age threshold, or higher age limit ever applied to same-sex relations since the 1993 decriminalization.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there. Russian Federation is 16 years old and has applied equally to all individuals regardless of sexual orientation since 27 May 1993. Following the enactment of Law No. 4892-I (which repealed Article 121 of the RSFSR Criminal Code and officially entered into force on 27 May 1993), same-sex relations were integrated under standard criminal law statutes. Under Article 134 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (No. 63-FZ), consensual sexual activity involving a person who has reached the age of 16 is not subject to criminal prosecution, with no legal or procedural distinction, differential age threshold, or higher age limit ever applied to same-sex relations since the 1993 decriminalization.
Sources	http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian) https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/day-inside-gay-chechnya/story?id=66509855	http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&nd=102041891 https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/8eed35/pdf/
Sources	Show Difference http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian) https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/day-inside-gay-chechnya/story?id=66509855 http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&nd=102041891 https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/8eed35/pdf/

Mar 2, 2025

edited by jadeywadey. fixing start date

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Start Date	Jan 1, 1997	1996

Jun 19, 2024

edited by UnknownMiles. Reverting to revision #39315: it’s de facto illegal in Chechnya

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Equal	Varies by Region
Start Date	Jan 1, 2003	Jan 1, 1997
Description	Equal since 2003 (even in Chechnya), the age of consent is 16.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.
Description	Show Difference Equal since 2003 (even in Chechnya), the age of consent is 16. The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.

Jun 19, 2024

edited by dafne_vrn. modification, it's equal

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Special Status	Varies by Region	Equal
Start Date	Jan 1, 1997	Jan 1, 2003
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.	Equal since 2003 (even in Chechnya), the age of consent is 16.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there. Equal since 2003 (even in Chechnya), the age of consent is 16.

Apr 30, 2024

edited by UnknownMiles. Reverting to revision #21559: because age of consent is irrelevant in Chechnya and also adding some words

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Equal	Varies by Region
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because it is illegal there.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because homosexuality is de facto illegal there.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because it is illegal there. homosexuality is de facto illegal there.

Reports (1)
Status is not correct "It's equal (even in Chechnya) since 2003"
Jun 18, 2024

Apr 28, 2024

edited by ruking_vats. De-ure age of consent is 16 in all subects in Russia

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Special Status	Varies by Region	Equal

Apr 13, 2024

edited by UnknownMiles. I’m changing the status to varies because it’s illegal in Chechnya.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Equal	Varies by Region
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because it is illegal there.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples. However, in Chechnya, the age of consent is N/A because it is illegal there.
Sources	http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian)	http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian) https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/day-inside-gay-chechnya/story?id=66509855
Sources	Show Difference http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian) (Russian) https://abcnews.go.com/amp/International/day-inside-gay-chechnya/story?id=66509855

Oct 22, 2023

edited by Turnopi_karnavara. Small edit

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Special Status	N/A	Equal
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 even for same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for same-sex couples.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 even for same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal. couples.

Reports (1)
Status is not correct "Homosexuality is illegal in russia"
Feb 16, 2024

Oct 18, 2023

edited by danlev. Reverting edit by Turnopi_karnavara as no explanation was given

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Special Status	Equal	N/A
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for Same-sex couples and Heterosexual couples.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 even for same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for Same-sex couples and Heterosexual couples. even for same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal.

Oct 18, 2023

edited by Turnopi_karnavara. Small edit

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 even for Same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for Same-sex couples and Heterosexual couples.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 even for Same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal. and Heterosexual couples.

Sep 15, 2023

edited by Vito12. Making this change because it is not correct.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 even for Same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. even for Same-sex couples however there's no age of consent in Chechnya because it is illegal.

Aug 26, 2023

edited by Turnopi_karnavara. Small edit

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, It is illegal to be homosexual Chechnya it is Varies by Region	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, It is illegal to be homosexual Chechnya it is Varies by Region

Aug 24, 2023

edited by Vito12. Making this change because it is not correct.

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, It is illegal to be homosexual Chechnya it is Varies by Region
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, It is illegal to be homosexual Chechnya it is Varies by Region

Aug 7, 2023

edited by Turnopi_karnavara. Small edit

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, homosexuality is illegal in Chechnya	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, homosexuality is illegal in Chechnya

Aug 7, 2023

edited by cihalcoc. Incorrect status

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, homosexuality is illegal in Chechnya
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, homosexuality is illegal in Chechnya

Jul 23, 2023

edited by Turnopi_karnavara. Small edit

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	(REMOVED)	Equal
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, same-sex relations are banned in Chechen Republic, and therefore it is not equal in this region	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, same-sex relations are banned in Chechen Republic, and therefore it is not equal in this region

Jul 11, 2023

edited by cihalcoc. Incorrect status

Helpful?

	Old Value	New Value
Value	Equal	(REMOVED)
Description	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.	The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, same-sex relations are banned in Chechen Republic, and therefore it is not equal in this region
Description	Show Difference The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. However, same-sex relations are banned in Chechen Republic, and therefore it is not equal in this region

Feb 20, 2015

edited by danlev

Helpful?

	Old Value (Original)	New Value
Description		The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.

Aug 18, 2013

created by brennen

Helpful?

	Original entry
Status	Equal
Start Date	Jan 1, 1997
End Date	(none)
Description	(empty)
Sources	http://base.consultant.ru/cons/cgi/online.cgi?req=doc;base=LAW;n=57610;p=1#p243 (Russian)