Hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Russia have doubled in five years, researchers said on Tuesday, in the wake of a law banning “gay propaganda”.

Murders accounted for almost 200 out of 250 crimes analyzed, the Center for Independent Social Research said, attributing the surge to Russia’s 2013 ban on the spreading of “propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations” to minors.

“(Offenders) have become more aggressive and less fearful,” said Svetlana Zakharova, a board member with Russian LGBT Network, the country’s most prominent gay rights campaign group, which has noted the same trend. – Reuters

In 2013  Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the draconian anti-gay bill banning the promotion of “homosexual propaganda.” Putin attempted to downplay accusations of anti-gay bigotry by claiming sexual minorities are “full fledged members of our society and are not being discriminated against in any way.”

Only 65 out of the 250 crimes were prosecuted.