Russia bans image of Vladimir Putin in drag because it 'suggests he is gay'

The Russian Ministry of Justice has now added the photo to it's index of 'extremist materials'.

A demonstrator holds a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin with make-up outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Madrid in 2013. Source: AFP / Getty.

An image of Vladimir Putin has been banned in Russia, due to the image apparently 'suggesting' that Putin is homosexual. 

The digitally-altered image shows a cartoon version of the politician's face wearing heavy, bright make-up. 

The Russian Ministry of Justice has now added the photo to it's index of 'extremist materials', citing that the makeup digitally applied to the President's face is intended to represent "the supposed non-standard sexual orientation of the president of the Russian Federation".

Demonstrators hold up anti-Putin placards at rally at Russian embassy in Spain, 2013. Source: AFP / Getty.

The image first appeared as the 'Putin is a gay clown' meme in 2013, after the Russian government introduced the controversial 'gay propoganda' law. This initiated a bunch of similar memes and images. 

The ministry's register states that the ban applies specifically to a picture posted on Vkontakte (a Russian social media network), which carries the caption: "Putin voters... they say there are lots of them, but there aren't any among the people I know.”

The photo is the 4071st items to be added to the banned 'extremist materials' index.