A court in Kostroma, Russia this week awarded embattled, longtime gay activist  Nikolai Alexeyev  a whopping 3000 roubles ($56.09) in  ‘moral damages’ after a Pride event he organized was forcibly cancelled.

The same court ordered authorities to pay Mr Alexeyev over 8000 roubles ($115.13) in October as pecuniary damages and legal fees – bringing the grand total to just $171.22 that comes no where near recovering the costs of the event and the attorney fees.

“It is a label attached to the Russian Federation by other countries, especially by those which have criminal responsibility for people of non-traditional sexual orientation.

Earlier this week Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted the country’s abuse against its LGBT community was made up and totally untrue stating:

“Russia recognizes and does not infringe on the rights of non-traditional sexual orientation. [Homosexuality] is not the choice of our society, but those are people whose rights are not cut.  We are not punishing anyone, but traditional family, healthy nation — those are our choices.”