Quarteera
Association of Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ people in Germany: advice for refugees, community and support.
Get in touch
quarteera.de
Psychologists and communities abroad
The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.
Whom to contact
5 organisationsWhere you are now
Shows those who help where you are now. The choice works only on your screen.
Russie-Libertés
Association of anti-war Russians in France: support for people facing persecution, community, public events.
Get in touch
russie-libertes.org
The Ark (Kovcheg)
Legal advice for people who have left (documents, residence permits, visas, asylum, extradition risk), temporary housing, free psychologists, mutual-aid chats by city.
Lawyers via the Telegram bots @kovcheglive_bot and @EmigrantHelpBot; psychologists and housing via forms on the website. The project was set up with support from the Anti-War Committee, designated 'terrorist' in Russia in March 2026; The Ark itself is a 'foreign agent'.
Other ways to reach them: team@kovcheg.live
Get in touch
kovcheg.live
Reforum Help
Free psychologists and lawyers for forced emigrants: migration and visas, taxes, civil law, humanitarian residence; groups and seminars.
A Reforum project of the Free Russia Foundation, designated 'undesirable' in Russia. If you travel to Russia, contacting an 'undesirable' organisation or joining its events can lead to prosecution, so check with a lawyer.
Get in touch
help.reforum.io
Sphere
Legal, psychological and emergency help for LGBTQ+ people from Russia.
The 'LGBT movement' is designated 'extremist' in Russia. Contact Sphere from a device that is not checked.
The only official bot is @spherehelpbot. It never asks for money or SMS codes.
Get in touch
The organisation itself is not designated, but in Russia the 'LGBT movement' is designated 'extremist', and the authorities may present help to LGBT people as taking part in it. Messages on a phone that may be seized are dangerous. Write from a device you would not hand over if detained.
I understand the risk, continueOther ways to reach them: website
Draft What human rights defenders advise
Psychologists and communities abroad
- Anxiety, guilt and burnout after leaving are common. Rights groups advise turning to projects for people who have left: there you don't need to explain the context.
- Free psychologists: The Ark (form on the website) and Reforum Help (online and in Berlin, Vilnius, Warsaw, Paris, Tbilisi).
- Communities: Reforum Space hubs (Berlin, Vilnius, Tallinn, Tbilisi, Budva) and The Ark's mutual-aid chats by city and profession. Reforum is designated 'undesirable' in Russia. If you plan to travel to Russia, going to its hubs and events may be treated as taking part in an 'undesirable' organisation, so check with a lawyer. The Ark was set up with support from the Anti-War Committee, which is designated 'terrorist' in Russia. In city chats, don't give your full name, address or travel plans: provocateurs turn up in chats.
- For LGBTQ+ people there is Sphere, and in Germany Quarteera. Note that the 'LGBT movement' is designated 'extremist' in Russia, so contact Sphere from a device that is not checked. In France, Russie-Libertés brings anti-war Russians together.
- Check that a chat or bot is official: the link should be on the organisation's website.
Designations of organisations in this guide: Sphere (foreign agent, "LGBT movement" designated extremist); Reforum Help (undesirable); Anti-War Committee 'Consuls' (terrorist). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
current as of 25 September 2026. More: The Ark: get help (foreign agent); Reforum Help (undesirable); Reforum Space (undesirable)
Need a lawyer
In Russia, First Department and Solidarity Zone find lawyers. Lawyers abroad known for defending political cases: list of lawyers →