Europe's top court rules against Russia in LGBT case

Europe's top court on Tuesday ruled against Russia over its refusal to register three associations, arguing it was "unacceptable" to do so simply because they were defending LGBT rights.

The three associations, which promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, took Russia to the Strasbourg court after exhausting their legal options at home.

Between 2006 and 2011, Rainbow House, the Movement for Marriage Equality and Sochi Pride House all tried to register as associations with the Russian authorities.

One application was turned down on the grounds that the group would "destroy the moral values of society", lead to a decrease in the population, and violate the rights of Russians who find any display of same-sex relations offensive.

Another was refused over various technical irregularities before being rejected on grounds of "extremism".

The Movement for Marriage Equality was turned down on the grounds that its aim -- same-sex marriage -- was incompatible with "established morality".

"The decisive ground for refusing to register the applicant organisations had been because they promoted LGBT rights," the court said.

"That ground could not be reasonably or objectively justified and had, moreover, amounted to discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation."