Two unusual lawsuits have been filed in St. Petersburg, Russia, involving a citizen of Tajikistan seeking official recognition of a gender change and a bus driver challenging the denial of a religious procession permit.

The first lawsuit involves Amal, a citizen of Tajikistan, who is requesting the court to recognize their gender change after the registry office denied their application. The denial was based on the certificate of gender change being from a private organization not included in the approved list. Amal is asking the court to establish the fact of the gender change and compel the registry office to amend their records.

This case arises amidst a backdrop of evolving legislation concerning gender reassignment in Russia. In 2023, President Vladimir Putin signed a law prohibiting gender reassignment surgeries and drug therapy, with exceptions only for interventions addressing congenital anomalies in minors, subject to approval by a medical commission.

The second lawsuit pertains to Yuri, a bus driver, who is contesting the Central District administration’s decision to disapprove his notification for a religious procession. Yuri had planned a prayer service and procession commemorating the birthday of Nicholas II, expecting 300 participants to proceed along the Griboyedov Canal embankment.

The administration advised coordinating the event through Rospotrebnadzor, citing existing anti-COVID restrictions. Yuri argues that the district’s communication neither explicitly refuses nor approves the event, creating “legal uncertainty” that hinders religious practices. He seeks to have the administration’s inaction declared unlawful.

It is worth noting that St. Petersburg has maintained anti-COVID restrictions for five years, despite Rospotrebnadzor declaring the pandemic’s end in 2022. These restrictions include a ban on rallies. Reports on the incidence have not been published since March 2025.

Both cases have now been assigned to judges for review.