Censorship of LGBT issues

# Censorship of LGBT issues

## Abstract

Censorship of LGBT issues is practised by some countries around the world. It may take a variety of forms, including anti-LGBT curriculum laws in some states of the United States, the Russian gay propaganda law (on "promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships"), and the Hungarian anti-LGBT law (on "content portraying or promoting sex reassignment or homosexuality"), and laws in Muslim-majority states such as Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Malaysia prohibiting advocacy that offends Islamic morality.

## Current laws

### Afghanistan

On 21 November 2021, Afghanistan's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice promulgated an order prohibiting TV channels from broadcasting media that are against the Taliban 's interpretation of Sharia and Afghan culture.

### Algeria

Article 333 bis of the Penal Code, as amended on 13 February 1982 by Law n° 82-04, criminalizes the distribution of anything against "decency" with up to 2 years in prison and a fine up to 2,000 dinars. Article 333, also amended in 1982, criminalizes indecent exposure of any "act against the order of nature with an individual of the same sex" with up to 3 years in prison and a fine up to 10,000 dinars.

### Brazil (sub-national)

Since 2014, at least 217 bills have been introduced at the federal, state, and municipal levels in Brazil to ban teaching " gender ideology ", "information on sexual orientation", "information on sexual diversity", "orienting the sexuality of students" and "ideological indoctrination" in Brazilian schools. At least 47 of these bills were passed into law, but many of them were struck down by the courts. As of 2022, 21 laws, including 1 on state level and 20 on municipal level, remain in force.

### Bulgaria

On 7 August 2024, Bulgaria's parliament approved an amendment to the education law that prohibits the “propaganda, promotion, or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one”. The amendment was introduced by Revival party. It defines "non-traditional sexual orientation” as "contrary to Bulgaria's legal concept of emotional, romantic, sexual or sensual attraction between persons of opposite sexes", alluding to Bulgaria's constituion which defines marriage as a heterosexual union. The amendment was supported by most of the MPs from GERB party, as well as all MPs from the Bulgarian Socialist Party and There is Such a People party. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms was split over the vote. On 15 August, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has signed the bill into the law.

### China

On 31 December 2015, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) of the People's Republic of China announced a new rule that banned any television show and film depicting "unnormal sexual relationships", including homosexuality. As a result of this new rule, many popular web television series at the time like Addicted and Go Princess Go were immediately pulled from broadcasting. Online streaming services including LeTV and Tencent Video followed the new rule by deleting or censoring web series with LGBT characters.

In 2017, an LGBT conference was scheduled to be held in Xi'an. Western reports, using the organisers blog as their source, claimed the police had detained the organisers and threatened them.

In March 2018, Oscar-winning drama Call Me By Your Name has been pulled from the Beijing International Film Festival 's lineup. It was widely speculated that the organizer of this festival was under political pressure to not show the film.

On 14 April 2018, Sina Weibo, the equivalent of Twitter in China, announced a crackdown on LGBT content, as pursuant to the China Internet Security Law and other government regulations.

In May 2018, the European Broadcasting Union blocked Mango TV, one of China's most watched channels, from airing the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 after it edited out Irish singer Ryan O'Shaughnessy 's performance, which depicted two male dancers, and blacked out rainbow flags during Switzerland's performance.

Days before the International Day Against Homophobia in 2018, two women wearing rainbow badges were attacked and beaten by security guards in Beijing. The security company dismissed the three guards involved shortly thereafter.

Mr. Gay China, a beauty pageant, was held in 2016 without incident. In 2018, the event host passively cancelled their engagement by not responding to any communications. Mr Gay World 2019 announced the cancellation of the Hong Kong event after communication began to deteriorate in early August. No official censorship notice was issued but some articles blamed the Chinese Government for the cancellation. That same year, a woman who wrote a gay-themed novel was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for "breaking obscenity laws".

### Georgia

On 4 June 2024, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament and one of the leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party Shalva Papuashvili said that the party initiated a package of legislation called, "On Family Values and Protection of Minors", consisting of one main law and 18 related draft laws that amend the Civil Code, the Labor Code, the legislation on education, and other codes. Proposed changes in the package included outlawing the registration of any union other than between a man and a woman, adoption of a minor to people who do not identify "as their gender" or are not heterosexual, all surgical operations or medical interventions for gender reassignment, and putting any gender "different from his own" on any state or identity documents. The changes also included restrictions on media and publishing, outlawing the radio or television broadcasting of information, programs, advertising, or "propaganda" aimed at "promoting a person's belonging to a gender different from his or her gender, same-sex relationship or incest", including sexual acts with "members of the same sex or a scene of incest", outlawing public gatherings or demonstrations aimed at promoting gender identity, non-heterosexual relationships, or incest, and voiding any public or private institution labor obligations "aimed at neglecting biological sex". The package would also designate May 17th as a holiday for the "sanctity of the family and respect for parents". On 27 June 2024, the Parliament of Georgia passed the proposed bill in the first reading.

On 4 September 2024, the Parliament of Georgia voted 81-0 for the proposed bill in the second reading. The Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Georgia made several changes to the legislative package, including a new article defining the "popularisation of queer relationships or of gender transitioning" and a prohibition on adopting to any "person who does not assign themself to any biological sex".

The bill was supported by the Georgian Dream and People's Power parties, which make up parliamentary majority. The opposition For Georgia party said that although it did not attend the vote, it still opposes the "propaganda directed at children, especially LGBT propaganda". The Girchi party expressed its opposition to the bill. Other opposition parties did not vote or take part in the parliamentary discussions.

### Hungary

In June 2021, the government of Hungary introduced a bill prohibiting the showing of "any content portraying or promoting sex reassignment or homosexuality" to minors, similar to the Russian gay propaganda law. On 15 June, the National Assembly approved the law by a vote of 157–1. The President of Hungary signed the bill into law on 23 June.

### Indonesia

On 23 February 2016, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) released the "Circular to All Broadcasting Companies on Effeminate Men", banning the portrayal of sexual and gender diversity in men by the broadcasting companies. In the same month, the KPI also banned TV and radio programs that "promoted homosexual lifestyle" claiming that they constituted a violation of the 2012 Broadcasting Program Standards.

### Iran

Iran has extensive public morality law which is used against newspapers and websites with the content related to the sexual orientation. Article 6 of the 1986 Press Law bans press which "undermines Islam's bases and commandments", including the spread of "fornication and forbidden practices" and "publishing photographs, pictures, and material which violate public chastity". The violation of this provision is punished under the Article 698 of the Islamic Penal Code with imprisonment of between two months to two years and flogging of up to74 lashes. Article 14 of the 2009 Law on Computer Crimes (Law No. 71063) punishes with imprisonment and fines the use of computer systems, telecommunications systems or data carriers to publish or distribute "immoral content", or storage of such material "with the intention of corrupting society". Article 640 of the Penal Code bans public display, production or storage of "any writing or design, gravure, painting, picture, newspapers, advertisements, signs, film, cinema movie" which corrupts "public prudency and morality".

Under these laws, operators of the website of Avizoon were arrested and charged with "pornography and publishing sexual ideas including homosexuality". The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which enforces the press laws, bans any positive portrayals of homosexuality. Publishers are not allowed to obtain licences to publish such material since gay and lesbian acts are considered as corrupt and morally bankrupt.

In 2002, a book entitled Witness Play by Cyrus Shamisa was banned from shelves (despite being initially approved) because it said that certain notable Persian writers were homosexuals and bisexuals.

In 2004, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art loaned a collection of artwork that formerly belonged to Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi that had been locked away since the Revolution in 1979 to the Tate Britain. The artwork included explicit homoerotic artwork by Francis Bacon and the government in Iran stated that upon its return, it would also be put on display in Iran.

In 2005, the Iranian Reformist paper Shargh was shut down by the government after it interviewed an Iranian author, living in Canada. While the interview never mentioned the sexual orientation of Saghi Ghahreman, it did quote her as stating that, "sexual boundaries must be flexible... The immoral is imposed by culture on the body". The conservative paper Kayhan attacked the interview and the paper, " Shargh has interviewed this homosexual while aware of her sick sexual identity, dissident views and porno-personality." To avoid being permanently shut down, the paper issued a public apology stating it was unaware of the author's "personal traits" and promised to "avoid such people and movements."

### Iraq

LGBT issues could be censored in Iraq under extensive public morality law namely, paragraph 215, 220, 376, 401, 402, 403, 404 and 408 of the Iraqi Penal Code.

In August 2023, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission issued the directive which banned media outlets from using the terms "homosexuality" and "gender". Instead, they must use the term "sexual deviance".

### Kuwait

Article 21 of the Press and Publications Law (Law No. 3) (2006) bans publishing content which is deemed as insulting to public morals.

A Disney movie The Beauty and the Beast has been banned in Kuwait for containing "an exclusively gay moment".

### Kyrgyzstan

On 14 August 2023, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signed a law which banned promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships among minors.

### Lebanon

The Lebanese Penal Code contains many articles which are used against homosexuality, including Article 209, 521, 526, 531, 532, 533 and 534. Article 531 and 532 ban violating public morals by public actions, movements, speaking and screaming. Article 533 bans manufacturing, exporting, supplying, or acquiring "writings, drawings, manual or photographic images, suggestive films, or other indecent items with the intention to trade or distribute them, or announce or inform how to obtain them".

Several films have been banned in Lebanon for LGBT content.

In 2018, prosecutor of Beirut suspended the scheduled activities of Beirut Pride, and initiated criminal proceedings against its founder Hadi Damien for organizing events "that incite to debauchery".

### Lithuania

On 16 June 2009, the Lithuanian Parliament approved an amendment to the Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effects of Public Information (Lithuanian: Nepilnamečių apsaugos nuo neigiamo viešosios informacijos poveikio įstatymas), which would have effectively banned the "promotion of homosexual relations". The amendment was scheduled to go into effect on 1 March 2010. Even though it was vetoed by the President citing "lack of definitions", the veto was overturned by the Parliament. The wording of the law forbade the "propaganda of homosexual, bisexual or polygamous relations". According to some politicians who voted in favor, the possibility of defining "propaganda" should be left to lawyers.

On 17 September 2009, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the law and requesting the EU Fundamental Rights Agency issue a legal opinion on it. On 10 November 2009, the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) answered by adopting a resolution requesting the Government to seek the invalidation of the EP Resolution, which it condemned as an unlawful act. The EU Fundamental Rights Agency wrote to the European Parliament that it was not going to submit the requested legal opinion, given that it had no mandate to evaluate the legislation of member states.

Newly elected President Dalia Grybauskaitė expressed her strong disapproval of the law and formed a commission to elaborate a draft to repeal the discriminatory provisions. On 22 December 2009, the clauses banning the promotion among minors of "homosexual, bisexual, and polygamous relations" were eliminated, but as a compromise, the paragraph was replaced by a "ban to spread information that would promote sexual relations or other conceptions of concluding a marriage or creating a family other than established in the Constitution or the Civil Code". It has been argued that this provision is the first step towards instituting a ban on criticizing the Government and its decisions and thus – a menace to democracy in the country. Proponents of the law claimed to be led by a desire to protect traditional family and children, some of them have expressed an opinion that the law would ban any information in public about homosexuality, regardless of its accessibility to minors or ban any public discussions and LGBT-related events. (So we propose to establish a limit that the promotion in public places is not possible to protect the mentioned three articles of the Constitution, but without doubt in some interior premisses those people have the right to organize events, to promote, to discuss) The new version was signed by the President, satisfied that "the homophobic provisions been repealed".

Significantly, the same law forbids mocking and bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation. It also possesses a number of other amendments, such as prohibiting the promotion of unhealthy nutrition to minors, a ban on information that "profanes family values", the depiction of hypnosis, etc.

The amendment has been sometimes compared to Section 28, the act which prohibited discussion of homosexuality in British schools.

Since coming into effect, there have been several attempts to apply the law. It has been unsuccessfully cited to ban the Gay Pride parade in 2010, and in 2013, and successfully referenced to declare one advertisement related to the Vilnius Gay Pride 2013 as appropriate to be broadcast at night time only and with the adult content logo. The reason given by the Board of Experts of Journalism Ethics Inspector Service was that one person in the advertisement had a T-shirt with an inscription in Lithuanian "For the diversity of families". In their opinion, it encourages a different conception of family and marriage than established in Lithuanian laws.

In 2014, based on similar grounds, the same institution recommended restricting the distribution of a children's book of tales titled "Gintarinė širdis" ("Amber Heart") published by the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, because two stories in it were related to same-sex relationships. The Board ordered the book to be labelled "Not suitable for children under 14 years" and referring to this recommendation, the Ministry of Culture banned the book altogether. The case have been escalated to the European Court of Human Rights in November 2019, and was heard by the Grand Chamber on 23 March 2022. In January 2023, the Court ruled that the government's actions were in violation of article 10, the right to freedom of expression, of the treaty.

In 2014, a video clip of a gay rights organisation promoting tolerance towards LGBT people was refused to air by all major Lithuanian TV stations despite not having any overt sexuality-related content, fearing a potential breach of the Law on the Protection of Minors. The breach was later unanimously confirmed by the Board of Experts of Journalism Ethics Inspector Service.

### Malaysia

Malaysia has laws which prohibit distributing, displaying or creating materials which are considered as "obscene" or "against public decency". Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 confers to Minister of Home Affairs absolute discretion to censor publications which are prejudicial to public order, morality, security, public or national interest, may "alarm public opinion" or are contrary to any law. This provision has been used to ban at least six LGBT-themed books.

Pro-LGBTQ+ demonstrations are banned as "insulting behaviour" and "contradictory to Islamic morality". Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, which prohibits "insulting behaviour", has been used against pro-LGBTQ+ protesters.

In 2023, Malaysian authorities seized Pride-themed watches made by Swatch. Eleven shopping malls with Swatch outlets around Malaysia, including in the capital Kuala Lumpur, were raided in May. Home Minister cited Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984 and said that "the Malaysian government is committed to preventing the spread of elements that are harmful or may be harmful to morals".

In 2010, the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia announced it would only allow depiction of homosexual characters as long as the characters "repent" or die. In 2017, Malaysia tried to censor Beauty and the Beast over some gay moments but eventually relented and let the movie be shown. The censorship board also had no objections to the screening of Power Rangers even with a lesbian scene in the movie.

### Moldova (sub-national)

Since 2012, several cities have enacted bans on "propaganda" of homosexuality (which do not include any kind of administrative sanctions or fines). These cities are:

- Bălți, enacted on 23 February 2012, and struck down on 28 February 2013

- Drochia, enacted on 27 March 2012

- Cahul, enacted on 29 March 2012

- Ceadîr-Lunga, enacted on 10 April 2012

- Glodeni, later repealed

- Rîșcani, later repealed

- Soroca

Similar bans were also enacted in the following districts:

- Anenii Noi, enacted on 1 March 2012

- Basarabeasca

- Fălești

Similar provisions were enacted by the following villages of Făleşti District:

- Bocani, later repealed

- Chetriș, repealed on 22 February 2012

- Hiliuți

- Pîrlița, later repealed

#### Gagauzia

On 30 April 2013, the Parliament of Gagauzia approved a bill to forbid the "propaganda" of homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism such as same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. The bill didn't include any kind of administrative sanctions or fines but some of its provisions banned any LGBT-related organizations from being registered in the region. Another provision was intended to ban any LGBT-related clubs and entertainment establishments. On 20 June 2013, these provisions were invalidated by a court decision, which held that these laws violated freedom of speech and human rights.

In May 2022, the People's Assembly of Gagauzia adopted a resolution banning "propaganda of non-traditional relations". The bill states that the "traditional family" is the basis of Gagauz society and bans local media from publishing anything that promotes same-sex couples. The Coalition for Inclusion and Non-discrimination has taken the resolution to the court, saying that it violates Moldova's constitution.

### Oman

Articles of the Publications and Publishing Law (1984) ban any publication which "calls people to embrace" or "promotes" anything against Islam, or might prejudice "public code of conduct" or "moral norms". The use of telecommunication services with information "contrary to the public order or morality", infringing "religious practice" or "promoting" anything against the law, is outlawed by the regulations passed under the Telecommunications Regulation Law (2002).

In 2013, The Week newspaper was shut down for one week after publishing article about Oman's LGBT community.

### Pakistan

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has authority to remove or block any content if it is "in the interest of the glory of Islam, public order, decency, or morality" under the Section 34 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (2016). The law has been used to ban LGB-related content online and in the media.

### Paraguay

On 5 October 2017, the Minister of Education and Science Enrique Riera signed Resolution N° 29664, which prohibits the use of printed and digital materials referring to " gender theory and/or ideology " in educational institutions. Enrique Riera later said he would volunteer to "burn the books in a public square if they contained gender ideology".

### Russia

In Russia, the Law for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values was unanimously approved by the State Duma on 11 June 2013 (with just one MP abstaining— Ilya Ponomarev), and was signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on 30 June 2013.

The Russian government's stated purpose for the law is to prevent children from being exposed to homosexuality—content presenting homosexuality as being a norm in society—under the argument that it contradicts traditional family values. The statute amended the country's child protection law and the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses, to make the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships " among minors, an offence punishable by fines. This definition includes materials that "raises interest in" such relationships; cause minors to "form non-traditional sexual predispositions"; or " distorted ideas about the equal social value of traditional and non-traditional sexual relationships." Businesses and organisations can also be forced to temporarily cease operations if convicted under the law, and foreigners may be arrested and detained for up to 15 days then deported, or fined up to 5,000 rubles and deported.

The Kremlin's backing of the law appealed to the Russian nationalist far-right, and also gained broad support among the Russian public and the Russian Orthodox Church, with 70% of Russians officially being Russian-Orthodox. The law was condemned by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (of which Russia is a member), by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and by human rights groups, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The statute was criticised for its broad and ambiguous wording (including the broadly worded "raises interest in" and "among minors"), which critics described as an effective ban on publicly promoting the rights and culture of the LGBT community. The law was also condemned for leading to an increase in, and justification of, homophobic violence, while the implications of the law in relation to the then-upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics being hosted by Sochi were also cause for concern, as the Olympic Charter contains language explicitly barring various forms of discrimination.

### Saudi Arabia

The Saudi government censors the media with fines, imprisonment and, for foreigners, deportation for any person possessing, importing, distributing or producing media without governmental approval. Media content, including advertising, cannot be seen as insulting the royal family or conflicting with Islamic teachings and values.

Radio and TV programs are banned from expressing support for LGBT rights, but homosexuality and cross-dressing can be discussed as long as the negative attitudes and biases are reinforced. A call-in TV show may feature a discussion about the immorality or "illness" of homosexuality, or, as in the case of Mirel Radoi, coverage may focus on a celebrity, in this case a Romanian-born football player, implying, as a false insult, that another football player was gay.

The government does allow public movie theaters to exist, since 2018, but the films are censored, as are the DVDs purchased in many retail stores. LGBT themes are generally one of the themes edited out of movies. Customs agents keep a list of films or TV shows that are not allowed to be brought into the kingdom.

Government regulation of the Internet generally falls under the Royal Decrees on Anti-Cyber Crime (2007). Article 6 prohibits creating, distributing or accessing online content or webpages that the government deems to be pornographic or in violation of religious values or public morals or is a threat to public health, safety or order.

The Saudi government has frequently blocked Internet users in the kingdom from accessing web pages or other online content that express support for LGBT rights. The restrictions on the Internet extend to blogs, social media and video upload webpages.

In 2010, a 27-year-old Saudi man was charged with homosexuality and impersonating a police officer when he posted a comical video of himself online, where he discusses popular culture, shows off his chest hair and flirts with the camera man. He was sentenced to a year in prison, with 1,000 lashes, and ordered to pay a fine of 5,000 rials (US$1,333).

In a crackdown across stores in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, according to the Saudi state-run TV channel al-Ekhbariya, government officials seized rainbow-colored clothing, products, toys, etc. The officials claimed that the June 2022 move was aimed at curbing the direct and indirect promotion of homosexuality in the country. An unnamed official from the Ministry of Commerce claimed that they were looking out for "slogans that violate the rules of Islam and public morals like promoting homosexuality colors, targeting the young generation." The items seized in the crackdown included hair accessories for children, backpacks, pencil cases, and rainbow stripes featured on crayon packs. When asked for comments from the Saudi authorities, none were received. In December 2022, authorities in neighboring Qatar carried out a similar purge.

### Singapore

Singapore has a series of laws and regulations that restrict LGBT topics in the media. The Infocomm Media Development Authority bans any film, television program, advertisement or video game which "promote or glamorize homosexuality", if the "homosexual content is discreet in treatment and not gratuitous" they can instead be classified as restricted to people aged 18 or over. Films can also be restricted to people aged 21 or over if their main themes are same-sex marriage or parenting.

### Turkey

In December 2020, the Advertisement Board of Turkey's Trade Ministry ruled that LGBT-themed merchandise that is sold online has to bear 18+ rating. Article 24 of Turkey's 2015 Regulation on Commercial Advertisement and Unfair Commercial Practices protects children from material that would "negatively affect the physical, mental, moral, psychological and social development characteristics of children" and that items "cannot contain elements to disrupt, change or denigrate cultural, moral and positive social behaviours".

Even though there are not any laws explicitly forbidding LGBT-related protests, the Istanbul Pride parade has been banned by the Istanbul governorship several times: in 2015, 2016, 2017, and in 2018, where people held an event regardless and some were arrested. It was banned again in 2019. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held online with no official interference.

In 2017, the capital city of Ankara banned all LGBT or LGBT rights related events, under the pretext of providing "peace and security", with officials saying that such "exhibitions" could cause different groups of society to "publicly harbor hatred and hostility" towards each other; on the other hand news media noted that the ban came in the context of the steady erosion of civil liberties in Turkey following the failed 2016 coup attempt.

In Ankara, all public LGBTI -related discussions are banned. In November 2017, the Ankara governor's office under state of emergency imposed an indefinite ban on LGBTI-focused public events. The emergency rule ended in July 2018; however, the ban was still not lifted. In October 2018, the government extended the ban to LGBTI-focused events generally without giving any idea about the end date. In May 2019, police in Ankara violently ended a student-led Pride march at the Middle East Technical University (METU). According to a report from Amnesty International, authorities arrested 25 students during that.

In June 2019, the 7th Izmir Pride, the 3rd Antalya Pride and the 27th Istanbul pride were banned by the cities governors. Amnesty International last week called for Turkey to lift the Pride bans. However, days later a court suspended Izmir pride week ban. In June 2019, 17 people were detained during press statement over Pride ban in Turkish police dispersed a crowd gathered in the city of Izmir for a public press statement over the governorate's pride parade ban and detained 17 people, after the group read their press statement.

On 25 June 2019, the Governorship of Mersin banned all LGBT events to be held in the province for 20 days under the Turkish Law on Meetings and Demonstrations "with the aim of maintaining public well-being and public peace, preventing crimes and protecting public health, public morality and safety of life and property of citizens." The ban went in effect in the 5th Mersin Pride Week, which was to be held between 1–7 July.

### Uganda

In 2023, Uganda passed Anti-Homosexuality Act ("An Act to prohibit any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; to prohibit the promotion or recognition of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; and for related matters") which makes the promotion (including normalisation) of homosexuality punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years and fines.

### United Arab Emirates

The Government in the United Arab Emirates has restricted access to various websites and monitors chat rooms, instant messages and blogs. There were only a few reports of prosecutions and punishments but many people on the internet have been censored their conversations and identity in gay chat rooms. The country's only internet service provider has a proxy server which blocks any website that goes against the country's moral values. Sites regarding dating or marriage, LGBT issues, the Bahá’í Faith or sites related to unblocking the censorship are all inaccessible. Some reports or sites related to unblocking the censorship are all inaccessible. Reports even suggest that any site with the word "gay" or "sex" is blocked.

The UAE's Media Regulatory Office banned the screening of Pixar's Lightyear in cinemas in June 2022, stating that the movie violated the Emirates' media content standards. The movie was opposed for depicting a same-sex relationship. Later that month, Majid, a popular Arabic-language comic book series for children, came under investigation by the UAE authorities for allegedly promoting homosexuality. The magazine withdrew its May 2022 edition, which depicted a multi-colored character. In one dialogue the character said, "Amazing, I have the capability to colour things... Ali will wish to become like me." According to The New Arab, a number of social media users had complained that Majid had intentionally used the Arabic word مثلي (mithli) in this character's speech, a word which means both a "homosexual" and "like me".

In June 2023, the UAE banned Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a week ahead of its expected release in the region. The movie failed to pass the Emirates' censorship requirements, due to a scene that depicted a glimpse of a transgender flag displaying the words "Protect Trans Lives".

### United States (sub-national)

Several U.S. states have laws which prohibit or limit the mention or discussion of gay and transgender issues in public schools. In theory, these laws mainly apply to sex education courses, but they can also be applied to other parts of the school curriculum as well as to extracurricular activities and groups such as gay–straight alliances.

These explicit anti-LGBT curriculum laws can be found in six US states, namely Florida (for kindergarten to grade 3 and instruction that is considered "not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students" in any grade), Alabama (For kindergarten to grade 5), Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Five other states (Montana, Arizona, Arkansas, Tennessee and Florida) require parental notification of instruction on LGBTQ issues and allows parents to opt-out of such instruction.

They are similar to the now-repealed section 28 of the British Local Government Act 1988, which prohibited local authorities from "intentionally promoting homosexuality, publishing material with the intention of promoting homosexuality, or promoting the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship."

States that have repealed their anti-LGBT curriculum laws include Alabama (since 29 April 2021), Arizona (since 1 July 2019), North Carolina (since 2006), South Carolina (since 12 March 2020) and Utah (since 1 July 2017).

### Yemen

The government blocks access to webpages that express support of LGBT rights. This policy of censorship also extends to publications and magazines in Yemen.

In 2012, the magazine Al Thaqafiya was shut down by the government for publishing a review of the Egyptian film titled, Heena Maysara (translates to "Till things get better"). The reviewer, a Yemeni filmmaker named Hamid Aqbi, expressed some support for LGBT rights while discussing the film.

In 2004, the Yemem Times, an English-language magazine, was allowed to publish an opinion piece opposing legal recognition of gay marriage.

In 2003, the Week, an Arabic-language magazine, published an article that included interviews with Yemeni men imprisoned for homosexuality. The three journalists involved with the article were convicted by the government.

## Repealed laws

### Australia (sub-national)

In December 1989 in the state of Western Australia, the Parliament of Western Australia passed the Law Reform (Decriminalisation of Sodomy) Act 1989 which decriminalised private gay sex while making it a crime for a person to "...promote or encourage homosexual behaviour as part of the teaching in any primary or secondary educational institutions..." or make public policy with respect to the undefined promotion of homosexual behaviour. It was repealed in 2002 via the Acts Amendment (Gay and Lesbian Law Reform) Act 2002, which also repealed the laws with respect to promotion of homosexual behaviour in public policy and in educational institutions.

### Romania

"Article 200" (Articolul 200 in Romanian) was a section of the Penal Code of Romania that criminalised homosexual relationships. It was introduced in 1968 under the communist regime of Nicolae Ceauşescu. Under pressure from the Council of Europe, it was amended on 14 November 1996, when homosexual sex in private between two consenting adults was decriminalised. However, the amended Article 200 continued to criminalise same-sex relationships if they were displayed publicly or caused a "public scandal". It also continued to ban the promotion of homosexual activities, as well as the formation of gay-centred organisations (including LGBT rights organisations). It was repealed by the Năstase government on 22 June 2001.

In June 2023, the Romanian Senate approved the draft law prohibiting spreading a theory that gender is different from biological sex and that there are more than two genders, but the President of Romania appealed to the Constitutional Court to review the draft law.

### South Korea

In 2001, South Korea 's Ministry of Information and Communication 's Information and Communications Ethics Committee began censoring online LGBT content, but it stopped the practice in 2003.

### United Kingdom

"Section 28" or "Clause 28" of the Local Government Act 1988 caused the addition of "Section 2A" to the Local Government Act 1986, which affected England, Wales and Scotland. The amendment was enacted on 24 May 1988, and stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

The law's existence caused many groups to close or limit their activities or self-censor. For example, a number of lesbian, gay and bisexual student support groups in schools and colleges across Britain were closed owing to fears by council legal staff that they could breach the act.

It was repealed on 21 June 2000 in Scotland by the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000, one of the first pieces of legislation enacted by the new Scottish Parliament, and on 18 November 2003 in the rest of the United Kingdom by section 122 of the Local Government Act 2003.

## Rejected proposals

### Armenia

In August 2013, Armenian police briefly introduced a bill which would have banned "public promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships". According to Armenian police, "preserving the traditional Armenian family represents the pillar of national survival". The bill was removed from consideration after several days.

### Kazakhstan

On 26 May 2015, the Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan declared a pending bill, which would have banned the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual orientation", unconstitutional. The council rejected it because of its vague wording. The bill passed the Senate, Parliament 's upper house, in February 2015 and was sent to President Nursultan Nazarbayev for signature. It had already been approved by the lower house.

### Moldova (national)

On 23 May 2013, the Parliament of Moldova passed a bill which bans the propaganda of prostitution, paedophilia and "any other relations than those related to marriage and family in accordance with the Constitution and the Family Code". The bill also includes fines. The bill was signed into law on 5 July 2013 and came into effect on 12 July 2013. The law did not explicitly prohibit the "propaganda" of homosexuality, but it could have been interpreted as such by judges. On 11 October 2013, the Parliament passed a bill intended to remove the content which could have been interpreted as a ban on "homosexual propaganda".

In April 2016, lawmakers introduced a similar bill, which was approved in committee in May 2016. The bill would amend the Law on the Rights of the Child and the Code of Administrative Offenses and ban spreading "homosexual propaganda" to minors "through public meetings, the media, the Internet," and other means. The second draft law of 24 March 2017 envisaged amending the Law on Protection of Children from the Negative Impact of Information with a view to censor public dissemination of information about non-heterosexual relations/persons. The parliament refused to adopt the amendments in both cases.

### Ukraine

A draft law that would make it illegal to talk about homosexuality in public and in the media and to import, distribute, and broadcast video, photo, and audio products that "encourages homosexuality" (with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines for up to ₴ 5,000 (US$616)) was passed in first reading in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) on 2 October 2012. An estimated 20 community activists representing several organizations protested outside of the Verkhovna Rada building during the vote. On 4 October 2012, a second vote was tentatively scheduled for 16 October. In January 2015, the bill was removed from the agenda.

A petition was subsequently started by anti-gay groups, calling for "measures to be taken to stop the propaganda of homosexuality and for defending family values". In March 2018, Ukraine's Anti-Discrimination Ombudsperson removed the petition from the electronic petitions section. By then, the petition had received 23,000 signatures and support from various religious organisations. The Ombudsman described the petition as "anti-freedom", and deleted it due to "containing calls to restrict human rights".

### Haiti

In August 2017, a bill to jail same-sex couples who get married for three years, with a fine of $8,000, passed the Haitian Senate, but never became law. In 2017, the Senate voted to ban "any public demonstration of support for homosexuality and proselytizing in favour of such acts". The fate of this bill remains unknown.

## Legal restrictions on LGBT expression by jurisdiction

The data is provided by ILGA (with the exception of data on Kyrgyzstan and Iraq) and highlights the legal restrictions on LGBT expression by jurisdiction.

The ILGA classifies laws as the ones which explicitly censor LGBT issues and the ones which censor them non-explicitly.

In addition, Spartacus International Gay Guide also includes a censorship section on their index.


2020 in Greece

# 2020 in Greece

## Abstract

Events in the year 2020 in Greece.

## Events

Ongoing – COVID-19 pandemic in Greece

### January

- January 3 – The country made official protest along with other countries against Turkey's plans to deploy troops to Libya.

- January 5 – Greece and Israel signed an agreement to build the longest underwater gas pipeline in the world.

- January 15 – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis nominated Council of State president Katerina Sakellaropoulou to be President.

### February

- February 3 – Police on the island of Lesbos fired tear gas to disperse migrants and refugees protesting about conditions in the camps and the slow pace of processing asylum requests.

- February 26 – The country confirmed its first COVID-19 case in Thessaloniki.

- February 27 – The country confirmed its second and third cases and cancels all Carnival -related events.

- February 28 – Nearly 300 migrants including Syrians arrived in Edirne province, Turkey, on the country's border in a bid to go to Europe. Another group of migrants arrived on the coast of Ayvacik in Çanakkale, western Turkey, and wanted to go to Lesbos by boats. Turkish officials announced that the security forces will not intervene to prevent the crossing of any migrants, including those from Syria and other countries like Afghanistan and Iran.

- February 29 – Eighty migrants crossed to Aegean Islands Lesbos and Samos overnight after Turkey opens its border with the country.

### March

- March 1 – The country deployed its military on the border with Turkey to prevent thousands of migrants from entering the European Union, and suspends all asylum applications for a month while also vowing to deport any migrants who enter the country illegally.

- March 2 – Hellenic Police border guards opened fire on migrants attempting to illegally enter the country by crossing the border from Turkey, killing a Syrian man. In addition, the Hellenic Army 's IV Army Corps announced a 24-hour snap military drill on the border with Turkey, and warns civilians to stay away from the area.

- March 3 – The Turkish interior minister announced that over 130,000 refugees had crossed into the country in the past four days.

- March 10 – Minister of Health Vasilis Kikilias announces that the country's schools and universities will remain closed for two weeks.

- March 12 Authorities reported the country's first COVID-19 death, a 66-year-old pilgrim who visited Egypt and Israel last month. The Olympic torch relay began in Olympia without public attendance. A week later on March 19 the Olympic flame was handed over to Japan.

- Authorities reported the country's first COVID-19 death, a 66-year-old pilgrim who visited Egypt and Israel last month.

- The Olympic torch relay began in Olympia without public attendance. A week later on March 19 the Olympic flame was handed over to Japan.

- March 13 – Katerina Sakellaropoulou was sworn in as President in the Hellenic Parliament and became the first woman to hold the office, succeeding Prokopis Pavlopoulos. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, she suspended the protocol ceremony for the inauguration scheduled for Saturday 14 and no handshakes were allowed.

- March 22 – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ordered a nationwide lockdown starting March 23.

### April

- April 26 – Two separate fires at a refugee camp on Samos left around 100 migrants without shelter, with some moved to Vathy.

- April 29 – A Canadian CH-148 Cyclone helicopter went missing while flying over the Ionian Sea during a NATO mission. One body was recovered, while the five other persons on board remained missing.

### May

- May 14 – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance is "ready to support" the UN -recognized Government of National Accord resulting in strong criticism from the country, which said his recognition of the " Muslim Brotherhood government" does not reflect the positions of the military alliance.

### June

- June 2 – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions on four shipping firms, including one based in the country, for transporting oil from Venezuela.

### July

- July 21 The country accused Turkey of encroaching on its territorial waters after a NAVTEX was issued by the Turkish Naval Forces for "seismic surveys" off Greek islands in the Mediterranean Sea between Cyprus and Crete from July 21 to August 2. The government placed the Hellenic Armed Forces on high alert after Turkish Air Force fighter jets entered Greek airspace over Strongyli Megistis.

- The country accused Turkey of encroaching on its territorial waters after a NAVTEX was issued by the Turkish Naval Forces for "seismic surveys" off Greek islands in the Mediterranean Sea between Cyprus and Crete from July 21 to August 2.

- The government placed the Hellenic Armed Forces on high alert after Turkish Air Force fighter jets entered Greek airspace over Strongyli Megistis.

### August

- August 6 – The country signed a bilateral agreement with Egypt which established a new exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Eastern Mediterranean between the two countries. The agreement prompted anger from Turkey, with the Turkish Foreign Ministry describing the deal as "null and void".

- August 7 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announces his country will resume energy exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean, saying the country had repeatedly violated their agreement on the matter.

- August 9 Eight people are dead after floods caused by thunderstorms and torrential rains affected Evia, Greece. Dozens of people have been evacuated from the area. The National Public Health Organization reported 203 new COVID-19 cases in the country in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single day for the country since the pandemic began.

- Eight people are dead after floods caused by thunderstorms and torrential rains affected Evia, Greece. Dozens of people have been evacuated from the area.

- The National Public Health Organization reported 203 new COVID-19 cases in the country in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single day for the country since the pandemic began.

- August 11 – The country imposed a curfew on bars, restaurants, and cafes in several regions following an increase in COVID-19 cases. The curfew lasts from midnight until 7 am local time.

- August 13 – France deployed two Dassault Rafale fighter jets and the frigate La Fayette to the eastern Mediterranean because of tensions between the country and Turkey over oil and gas exploration in disputed waters. French President Emmanuel Macron says the French military will monitor the situation.

- August 14 – The country announced that they would limit public gatherings to 50 people and impose a midnight curfew on bars and restaurants in Athens and other areas. This measure is to last until August 24 in parts of the country where infection numbers have risen.

- August 25 – Manchester United captain and England international Harry Maguire was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison by a court in the country for repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery of police, violence against public employees and insult, following his arrest on the island of Mykonos.

- August 26 The country confirmed 293 new cases in the last 24 hours which is the highest daily spike since the outbreak began in the country. According to National Public Health Organization, 22 of the new cases were reported at the country's entry points. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense revealed that a Barbaros -class frigate of the Turkish Navy and the TCG Burgazada have conducted joint military exercises with the USS Winston S. Churchill of the U.S. Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean, hours after the country conducted similar exercises with France, Italy, and Cyprus in the disputed region.

- The country confirmed 293 new cases in the last 24 hours which is the highest daily spike since the outbreak began in the country. According to National Public Health Organization, 22 of the new cases were reported at the country's entry points.

- The Turkish Ministry of National Defense revealed that a Barbaros -class frigate of the Turkish Navy and the TCG Burgazada have conducted joint military exercises with the USS Winston S. Churchill of the U.S. Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean, hours after the country conducted similar exercises with France, Italy, and Cyprus in the disputed region.

- August 27 – The Hellenic Parliament formally ratified a maritime agreement with Egypt, that defines maritime boundaries and an exclusive economic zone between the two countries in the Mediterranean Sea.

- August 28 The Ministry of Citizen Protection announced changes to the country's travel restrictions, effective August 31 until at least September 19, due to a rise in cases in recent weeks. Changes include requiring visitors from a list of countries to show a negative test result to enter and a suspension of flights to and from Catalonia, Spain, but lifting restrictions on the Netherlands. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell threatens Turkey with sanctions unless it and the country reconcile their differences over maritime borders and gas drilling rights near Cyprus.

- The Ministry of Citizen Protection announced changes to the country's travel restrictions, effective August 31 until at least September 19, due to a rise in cases in recent weeks. Changes include requiring visitors from a list of countries to show a negative test result to enter and a suspension of flights to and from Catalonia, Spain, but lifting restrictions on the Netherlands.

- Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell threatens Turkey with sanctions unless it and the country reconcile their differences over maritime borders and gas drilling rights near Cyprus.

- August 30 Turkey demands that the country withdraws its troops from the Aegean island of Kastellorizo, saying it had violated the 1947 peace treaty, which called for the formerly Italian-occupied Kastellorizo to be demilitarized, with a recent troop deployment. The government says the event was a "routine troop rotation". The number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 10,000.

- Turkey demands that the country withdraws its troops from the Aegean island of Kastellorizo, saying it had violated the 1947 peace treaty, which called for the formerly Italian-occupied Kastellorizo to be demilitarized, with a recent troop deployment. The government says the event was a "routine troop rotation".

- The number of COVID-19 cases in the country reached 10,000.

- August 31 – French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for a "coordinated European response" to recent Turkish aggression towards the country and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean, saying "Europe needs to leave the age of innocence behind and shape its own destiny."

### September

- September 1 – Due to some spikes in cases, authorities delayed the schools' reopening to September 14 in order to allow time for vacationers to return to big cities to limit the movement of asymptomatic people. Students and teachers are told to wear face masks, which will be handed out for free to both public and private schools.

- September 2 – The country reported the first case in its largest refugee camp, located on the island of Lesbos.

- September 9 – Multiple fires erupted in the Mória Reception & Identification Centre, the country's largest migrant camp, causing widespread destruction. The fires happen shortly after the entire camp was put under quarantine due to the detection of positive COVID-19 cases.

- September 10 The country reports 372 new cases in the last 24 hours, its highest daily tally since the start of the pandemic in the country. From those new cases, 114 were due to an outbreak at a food processing plant in the northern part of the country, with 133 recorded in the greater Athens area. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to accept into their respective borders around 400 unaccompanied minors from the Mória Reception & Identification Centre, which had been destroyed by a fire the previous day.

- The country reports 372 new cases in the last 24 hours, its highest daily tally since the start of the pandemic in the country. From those new cases, 114 were due to an outbreak at a food processing plant in the northern part of the country, with 133 recorded in the greater Athens area.

- French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to accept into their respective borders around 400 unaccompanied minors from the Mória Reception & Identification Centre, which had been destroyed by a fire the previous day.

- September 12 – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced an arms deal with France for the purchase of Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft and FREMM multipurpose frigates, as well as the recruitment of 15,000 additional troops, amid ongoing tension in the eastern Mediterranean.

- September 15 – Germany agreed to take 1,500 migrants from the country following a devastating fire at the Moria Refugee Camp on the island of Lesbos.

- September 19 – A rare Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone (medicane), with winds up to 120 km/h (75 mph), killed three people as it passes over the country heading toward the island of Crete. About 5,000 homes in Karditsa, Greece, were affected by flooding and heavy winds. One person is still reported missing.

### October

- October 7 – A court ruled that far-right political party Golden Dawn operated as a criminal organization in connection with the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas in 2013 and other crimes.

- October 28 - In a parasailing accident 2 British teenagers were killed and another one got injured in Rhodes, Greece.

## Deaths

### January

- 3 January – Antonis Balomenakis, lawyer and politician, former MP (b. 1954).

- 21 January – Katerina Anghelaki-Rooke, poet and academic (b. 1939).

- 29 January – Yannis Tseklenis, fashion designer (b. 1937).

### February

- 12 February – Nikitas Venizelos, businessman (b. 1930).

- 14 February – Christophoros, Orthodox prelate (b. 1931).

### March

- 2 March – Yannis Katsafados, lawyer politician (b. 1935).

- 13 March – Filippos Petsalnikos, politician (b. 1950).

- 30 March – Manolis Glezos, resistance activist and politician (b. 1922).

### April

- 11 April – Periklis Korovesis, journalist and politician (b. 1941).

### May

- 1 May – Georgios Zaimis, Olympic sailor, gold medalist (b. 1937).


Sarah Everhardt

# Sarah Everhardt

## Abstract

Sarah Elizabeth Everhardt (born November 12, 2006) is an American figure skater. She is the 2024 U.S. national pewter medalist, the 2024 CS Cranberry Cup International champion and the 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy silver medalist.

## Personal life

Sarah Elizabeth Everhardt was born on November 12, 2006, to Jonathan and Ekaterina Everhardt. She is of Irish and Belarusian descent.

Prior to becoming a figure skater, she tried out multiple sports such as swimming or gymnastics.

Everhardt currently attends Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. Outside of skating, she enjoys painting and drawing.

## Career

### Early career

Everhardt began skating at the age of five. Debuting at the 2022 U.S Junior Championships, she finished 11th.

### Junior career

#### 2022–2023 season

Everhardt made her international junior debut at 2022 JGP France in Courchevel, where she placed 10th overall. After winning the bronze medal at 2023 U.S. Eastern Sectional Championship, she qualified for the 2023 U.S junior Figure Skating Championships and finished 12th.

#### 2023–2024 season

Everhardt started the season with a gold medal at 2023 Cheasapeake Open and went on to win the silver medal at 2023 Glacier Falls Summer Classic behind compatriot and training mate, Audrey Shin. Competing at her 2nd JGP assignment in Poland, she placed 4th and 5th in the short and free program, respectively, but finished 6th overall

Debuting at her first senior national championship at 2024 U.S Figure Skating Championships, Everhardt placed 6th after the short program and went on to placed 3rd in the free skate. Overall, she finished 4th behind Amber Glenn, Josephine Lee and defending champion Isabeau Levito and won the pewter medal. She shared "I've never skated in front of such an awesome crowd - great to see everyone supporting me and kind of skating with me."

#### 2024–25 season

Everhardt began the season by winning gold at the 2024 CS Cranberry Cup International ahead of teammate, Isabeau Levito. She went on to compete at the 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy where she won the silver medal behind reigning U.S. National champion, Amber Glenn, and ahead of World Champion, Kaori Sakamoto.

## Competitive highlights

- JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series

## Detailed results


2023 in Greece

# 2023 in Greece

## Abstract

Events in the year 2023 in Greece.

## Incumbents

- President: Katerina Sakellaropoulou

- Prime Minister: Kyriakos Mitsotakis

## Events

- 5 January – Aegean dispute: A Turkish coast guard vessel exchanges warning shots with a Greek coast guard vessel off the Greek island of Farmakonisi.

- 10 January – Constantine II, dies at age 82. He was the last Greek monarch, reigning from 1964 to 1973.

- 27 January – Greek wiretapping scandal of 2022: Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis survives a no-confidence vote called by former prime minister Alexis Tsipras over the scandal.

- 8 February – The Greek Parliament votes to ban National Party – Greeks from running in the coming elections. The New Democracy (Greece), PASOK voted for it, while the Communist Party of Greece, Greek Solution and MeRA25 voted against.

- 28 February – Tempi train crash: A passenger train and a freight train collide in Tempi, Larissa, Thessaly, killing 57 people and injuring more than 85 others.

- 1 March – Two people are killed after a boat carrying around 30 migrants capsizes near the coast of Kos.

- 21 May – May 2023 Greek legislative election.

- 14 June – At least 59 people die and 100 more are rescued after a boat carrying migrants capsizes off the coast of the Peloponnese. The government declares a three-day mourning period.

- 15 June - Protest across the country following the sinking of a boat carrying migrants and refugees. The boat is estimated to have been ferrying 750 people. More than 100 were rescued, and 78 bodies recovered.

- 19 June – Nine Egyptian men arraigned in court in connection to the boat disaster. They all pleaded not guilty.

- 25 June – June 2023 Greek legislative election: Nea Demokratia wins another term in office following May's fruitless election. Spartans, Course of Freedom and Niki enter the Parliament for the first time.

- 25 July – 2023 Greece wildfires: Two HAF servicemen are killed when a Canadair CL-215 waterbomber crashes on Evia island.

- 5 September – The city of Volos suffers extended damage due to floods caused by heavy raining.

- 6 September – At least 10 people have been killed by floods caused by torrential rain in Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece.

- 7 September – Due to ongoing flooding, the main highway in Greece between Athens and Thessaloniki is closed and there is no train traffic between the two major cities.

- 26 November – The cargo ship Raptor sinks off the Greek island of Lesbos with 14 crew members on board. The coast guard rescues one person and recovers the body of one of the other crew members.

- 28 December – Greek -owned cargo ship Vyssos travelling to Ukraine hits a Russian naval mine in the Black Sea, injuring three crew members.

## Sports

- 20 June – 2 July – 2023 Men's Junior World Handball Championship

- 19 August 2022 – 14 May 2023: 2022–23 Super League Greece

- 2 – 9 September – 2023 Mediterranean Beach Games

## Deaths

- 1 January – Apostolos Pitsos, 104, industrialist and businessman.

- 3 January – Nikos Skylakakis, 99, basketball player (national team). Notis Mavroudis, 77, guitarist and composer

- Nikos Skylakakis, 99, basketball player (national team).

- Notis Mavroudis, 77, guitarist and composer

- 10 January – Irenaios, 83, Orthodox prelate, patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem (2001–2005). Constantine II, 82, last king of the Hellenes (r. 1964–1973).

- Irenaios, 83, Orthodox prelate, patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem (2001–2005).

- Constantine II, 82, last king of the Hellenes (r. 1964–1973).

- 17 January – Paul Soulikias, 96, Greek-Canadian painter.

- 20 January – Elena Apergi, 90, actress (Madalena, Ena Exypno Exypno Moutro).

- 21 January – Erricos Andreou, 84, film director (The Hook, Act of Reprisal) and screenwriter.

- 22 January – Nikos Xanthopoulos, 88, actor and singer.

- 24 January – Metropolitan Panteleimon of Belgium, 87, Orthodox prelate, metropolitan of Belgium (1982–2013).

- 2 February – John Zizioulas, 92, Orthodox prelate, metropolitan of Pergamon (since 1986).

- 8 February – Manousos Voloudakis, 56, politician, MP (2007–2009, 2012–2014, since 2019).

- 9 February – Sasa Zivoulovic, 50, Olympic handball player (2004).

- 13 February – Nektarios Santorinios, 50, politician, MP (since 2015).

- 16 February – Despoina Nikolaidou, 88–89, actress (A Matter of Dignity, And the Wife Shall Revere Her Husband, Agonia). Stratis Stratigis, 89, lawyer and politician, MP (1985–1989).

- Despoina Nikolaidou, 88–89, actress (A Matter of Dignity, And the Wife Shall Revere Her Husband, Agonia).

- Stratis Stratigis, 89, lawyer and politician, MP (1985–1989).

- 17 February – Moses Elisaf, 68, politician, mayor of Ioannina (since 2019).

- 20 February – George B. Dertilis, 84, historian.

- 22 February – Giorgos Katsoulis, 60, water polo player (Olympiacos) and coach.


Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro

# Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro

## Abstract

Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro or Frédéric Pissarro (born in 1964 in Paris) is a French painter. Since 2002, he has been a citizen of the United States.

## Family

Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro is the son of Sylvie and Claude Bonin-Pissarro, also a painter. He is a great-grandson of the "father of Impressionism", Camille Pissarro. His sister is named Lila. Married, he has three sons.

## Biography

Frederic began learning the art of painting with his father. Jean Edelmann also exerted a major influence on his style. In 1983–1984 Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro studied at the Ecole de Sèvres, then from 1984 to 1988 he studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts (ENSBA). There, he attended masterclasses of Jacques Yankel and of Antonio Segui. After his studies, he settled in Cincinnati (Ohio, USA). In 1989–90, Bonin-Pissarro worked on stage sets for the Théâtre Populaire des Cévennes in Paris. From 1991 to 1994, he drew up various projects for the Planète Magique amusement park in Paris. From 1995 to 1997, he taught at the art school Faire in Gisors. Since 1998, he has taught setting color, character design, writing scenario, illustration, composition and layout at the Art Institute of Cincinnati (AIC College of Design). In 2009, The Art Institute of Cincinnati has conferred him an associate degree in graphic design. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Master in Arts, with mention summa cum laude from the Morehead State University in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

In 2017, he was appointed Visiting Lecturer at College of Fine Arts of University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

## Works

Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro first painted in a Neo-Impressionist style, in which he incorporated elements of fauvisme; then by adopting a clear line and more pronounced colors, his compositions have become more complex; patterns, dots and lines have appeared in his works, now considered part of the modern Abstract Art. His early paintings show the expressive face of representations of wildlife art and still life with oil paintings or acrylic. He himself describes his style as "expressive figurative ".

### Pictorial works (selection)

- Mouffetard St Market, Paris

- Two Minds, One Vision

- Cow Love

- Keeping It Together

- The Flip Side Of Love

- Urban Bird

- Sending Love

- Happy Projections

- Innocence

- Lady With Bird

- Modern Beauty

- Petit Mother

- Doubletake

- Family Bliss

- Takes Two To Tango

- Family Love

- Peace With Nature

- Love Bird

- Connected

- Maternite

- Amaman

- Modern Family

- Complex Relationships

- Party Bird

### Exhibitions (selection)

Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro has exhibited at the following exhibitions:

- Salon des Indépendants, Société des Artistes Indépendants; Paris 1990

- Salon Comparaison; Paris 1992

- Salon de May, Paris 1993

- Salon de Mars; Paris 1993

- Salon de Bagneux (juried); Paris 1994

- Galerie de Synthese; Paris 1994

- Galerie de Beaux-Arts, Paris 1994

- Salon de Vitry; Paris 1995

- Galerie du C.R.O.U.S.; Paris 1996

- Galerie Jeanne Masson, Paris 1997

- Opus Gallery; Cleveland (Ohio) 1998

- Marquette Gallery, Cincinnati (Ohio) 1998

- Gallery Adrienne; San Francisco (California) 1999

- Fourway Gallery; Martha's Vineyard (Massachusetts) 1999

- Debruyne Gallery; Naples (Florida) 2000

- Art Factory; Rockford (Illinois) 2000

- Wally Findlay Gallery; Chicago (Illinois) 2001

- Marquette Gallery; Madeira (Ohio) 2001

- Wally Findlay Gallery; Chicago, New York, Palm Beach, London 2002–2009

- Titus Fine Art; Beverly Hills (California) 2005–2012

- The Pinacle; East Tsimshatsui (Hong Kong) 2011

- Festival International d'Art Singulier Contemporain, Grand Baz'Art à Bézu; Bézu-Saint-Éloi 2011

- Musee Prive; Paris 2011

- Outsider Gallery; French Town (New Jersey) 2011

- Greenwich Gallery; Cincinnati (Ohio) 2011

- Kings Wood Art Print Edition, dreijähriger Vertrag 2012

- Inauguration Galerie 30; Cannes 2012

- The Nursery Rhyme Project, Curator of Dion Hitchings; New Jersey 2012

- Gallery Artisti; Paris 2012

- Commission for last Pei building, Bangkok 2012

- Lille International Contemporary Art Fair (10 Gemälde), Lille 2012

- Acala Gallery (Einzelausstellung); Bangkok 2012

- The TOY Show, kuratiert von Dion Hitchings; New Jersey 2012

- Artop Gallery, Lille 2013

### Publications

Frédéric Bonin-Pissarro made illustrations for the following books:

- Matt Ackermann: Antoine's Ault Park Adventure. 2008

- Missy Griffin : Gigi's Window. 2010

- Marion K. Allman" Hi! My Name is Casey. 2010

## Prize

The Key of the City of Cincinnati in 2001


Dave Wittenberg

# Dave Wittenberg

## Abstract

Dave Wittenberg, sometimes credited as Dave Lelyveld, is a South African-born American voice actor and scriptwriter.

## Early life

Wittenberg was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was raised in the Boston area.

## Career

Wittenberg voices Kakashi Hatake, the 6th Hokage in Naruto, Michael Lee in Witch Hunter Robin. Bash Johnson in Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, Franz's singing voice in the Disney animated film Planes, Vision in Marvel Heroes, Lang Rangler in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, and Time Baby in Gravity Falls. In video games, he voices Trigger Happy from the Skylanders series, Mad Doctor from Epic Mickey, and Buddy Alexander from Resident Evil: Damnation.

He is also an adaptive scriptwriter for English dubs of anime whose work includes episodes of Digimon. Wittenberg also narrates many documentaries and specials for the Travel Channel and Food Network.

## Filmography

### Anime

### Video games

- .hack//INFECTION – Sora

- .hack//MUTATION – Sora

- .hack//OUTBREAK – Sora

- .hack//QUARANTINE – Sora

- Aliens versus Predator – All Narration

- Assassin's Creed Revelations – Misc. Voices

- Baroque – The Coffin Man, Koriel Member no. 3 (uncredited)

- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds – Assorted Vampires

- Company of Heroes – Airborne (night), Various voices

- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars – Nod Shadow Team, Nod Raider Buggy, Additional voices

- Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath – Kane's assistant (live action performance), Additional Voices

- Dead Rising – Ed Deluca, James Ramsey, Sam Franklin, Additional Voices (as Dave Wittenburg)

- Diablo III – Additional Voices

- Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Additional Voices

- Digimon Rumble Arena – Henry Wong

- Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two – Additional Voices

- Fight Club – Additional Voices

- Final Fantasy Type-0 HD – Additional Voices

- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Saito

- God of War III – Civilians and Soldiers

- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII – Additional Voices

- Mass Effect – Additional Voices

- Medal of Honor: Rising Sun – Additional Voices

- Prototype – Additional Voices

- Prototype 2 – Additional Voices

- Rage – Various Voices

- Rave Master – Pasha

- Resident Evil 6 – Additional Voices (uncredited)

- Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure – Hektore (3DS exclusive character), Additional Voices

- Skylanders: Giants – Trigger Happy

- Skylanders: SuperChargers – Trigger Happy

- Skylanders: Swap Force – Trigger Happy

- Skylanders: Trap Team – Trigger Happy, Trigger Snappy

- SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3 – "RAVEN"

- Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions – Additional Voices

- Tangled: The Video Game – Additional Voices

- The Incredible Hulk – Additional Voices

- Tomb Raider: Anniversary – Larson Conway

- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 – Additional Voices

- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 – Additional Voices

- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 – Additional Voices

- Too Human – Frey, Hanz, Wolf Trooper, Patron

- Ultimate Spider-Man – Additional Voices

- X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Additional Voices

### Live-action

- Versus - Suit (English dub, credited as Dave Levyland)

- The Do's and Don'ts of Cruising - Narrator

## Other

- Cruising Do's and Dont's - Narrator

- I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant - Narrator

- Unbeatable Banzuke - Announcer (USA)

- Mystery ER - Narrator

- Ninja Warrior – Announcer (USA)

- WordGirl – Hosted (USA)


Carlos Alazraqui filmography

# Carlos Alazraqui filmography

## Abstract

Carlos Alazraqui has been featured in various films, television shows, and video games. He is best known for voicing Rocko in Rocko's Modern Life and Mr. Crocker from The Fairly OddParents. He also voiced Spyro in the first Spyro the Dragon video game.

## Live-action filmography

## Voice-over filmography


Chiranjeevi

# Chiranjeevi

## Abstract

Konidela Chiranjeevi (born Konidela Sivasankara Varaprasad; 22 August 1955) is an Indian actor, politician and philanthropist known for his work in Telugu cinema. Known as the " Mega Star ", he is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential actors in the history of Indian cinema. Chiranjeevi holds the record for the most "Industry Hits" in Telugu cinema, with eight films emerging as the top-grossers of their time—a feat unmatched by any actor in the industry's 100-year history. He is also celebrated as one of the finest dancers in Indian cinema. He has received numerous honours, including the Padma Bhushan in 2006 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2024 from the Government of India, as well as the IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award in 2022. His other accolades include the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, three Nandi Awards, and nine Filmfare Awards South, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2013, CNN-IBN recognized him as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema".

Chiranjeevi made his acting debut in 1978, initially gaining recognition for his supporting, anti-hero, and antagonist roles. He later transitioned to lead roles with notable success. His breakthrough came with the 1983 film Khaidi, which became the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time and established him as a leading actor in the industry. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Chiranjeevi starred in various "Industry Hits" — highest-grossers of all time — like Pasivadi Pranam (1987), Yamudiki Mogudu (1988), Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989), Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990), Gang Leader (1991), and Gharana Mogudu (1992). Notably, Gharana Mogudu was the first South Indian film to earn over ₹ 10 crore in distributor share, prompting The Week magazine to label him "Bigger than Bachchan " and "the new money machine."

For his role in Aapadbandhavudu (1992), Chiranjeevi was paid ₹ 1.25 crore, making him the highest-paid actor in India at the time and the first Indian actor to command a ₹ 1 crore remuneration for a film. During this period, he received widespread critical acclaim for his performances in Swayamkrushi (1987), Rudraveena (1988), and Aapadbandhavudu (1992), showcasing his versatility as an actor who excelled in both commercial blockbusters and critically acclaimed films. Notably, Swayamkrushi was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival, while Rudraveena, which he co-produced, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Chiranjeevi continued to dominate the box office with films like Master (1997), and Choodalani Vundi (1998). His 2002 film Indra was the highest-grossing Telugu film for many years, and socially impactful films like Tagore (2003) and Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. (2004) became major blockbusters, further cementing his legacy.

On 2 October 1998, Chiranjeevi established the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust, which operates the largest blood and eye banks in the Telugu states. The trust has restored eyesight to over 9,000 individuals through cornea transplants and provides 70% of collected blood free to the poor. It has received several accolades, including the "Best Voluntary Blood Bank Award" from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for five consecutive years from 2002 to 2006. In 2002, he was honoured with the Samman Award by the Income Tax Department, for being the highest income tax payer in the profession category for the assessment year 1999–2000.

In 2008, Chiranjeevi founded the Praja Rajyam Party and led it in the 2009 Andhra Pradesh elections, where it won 18 seats and secured over 16% of the vote, making it the third-largest party in the state. The party merged with the Indian National Congress in 2011. Chiranjeevi served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2012 to 2018 and was appointed Minister of Tourism in the central cabinet of India in October 2012, holding the position until May 2014. After a hiatus from cinema, he returned with the blockbuster hit Khaidi No. 150 (2017), followed by successful films such as Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019) and Waltair Veerayya (2023).

## Early and personal life

Chiranjeevi was born as Konidela Sivasankara Varaprasad Rao on 22 August 1955 in a Telugu family to Konidela Venkata Rao and Anjana Devi in Mogalthur, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. His father Konidela Venkata Rao worked as a constable and was transferred on a regular basis. He spent his childhood in his native village with his grandparents.

Chiranjeevi did his schooling in Nidadavolu, Gurazala, Bapatla, Ponnur, Mangalagiri and Mogalthur. He was an NCC cadet and had participated in the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi in the early 1970s. He was interested in acting from a young age. He did his Intermediate at C. S. R. Sarma College in Ongole. After graduating with a degree in commerce from Sri Y N College at Narsapuram, Chiranjeevi moved to Chennai and joined the Madras Film Institute in 1976 to pursue a career in acting.

On 20 February 1980, Chiranjeevi married Surekha, the daughter of Telugu comic actor Allu Ramalingaiah. They have two daughters, Sushmitha and Sreeja, and a son, Ram Charan, also an actor in Telugu cinema. Chiranjeevi has two brothers, Nagendra Babu, a film producer and actor, and Pawan Kalyan, an actor-politician who founded Jana Sena, a regional political party. Allu Aravind, his brother-in-law, is a film producer. Chiranjeevi is the uncle to actors Allu Arjun, Varun Tej, Niharika, Sai Dharam Tej, and Panja Vaisshnav Tej.

## Acting career

### 1978–1981: Early career

Since his family worshipped Anjaneya (Hanuman), a Hindu deity, his mother advised him to take the screen name " Chiranjeevi ", meaning "Immortal", a reference to the belief of Hanuman living forever.

Chiranjeevi started his film career with Punadhirallu (1979). However, his first released film was Pranam Khareedu (1978). Mana Voori Pandavulu (1978), directed by Bapu, gave Chiranjeevi recognition from the Telugu audience. He played a small role in Tayaramma Bangarayya (1979). He played the anti-hero in films I Love You (1979) and K. Balachander 's Idi Katha Kaadu (1979), starring Kamal Haasan.

In a remake of the Tamil film Avargal (1977), Chiranjeevi portrayed the character played by Rajinikanth in the original. In 1979, Chiranjeevi had eight major film releases and then 14 films in the following year. In 1981, he played lead antagonist in works such as Mosagadu, Rani Kasula Rangamma, 47 Natkal / 47 Rojulu, Nyayam Kavali and Ranuva Veeran.

### 1982–1986: Breakthrough with leading roles

Chiranjeevi began to appear in leading roles with films such as Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya (1982), directed by Kodi Ramakrishna, which was a hit at the box office. Later, he starred in Subhalekha (1982), directed by K. Viswanath, which dealt with the social malady of the dowry system. It brought him his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu and Viswanath's third Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu. In 1982, he also appeared in movies such as Idi Pellantara, Sitadevi, Tingu Rangadu, Bandhalu Anubandhalu and Mondi Ghatam. He acted in multi-star movies such as Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu and Billa Ranga, and later appeared in Manchu Pallaki.

Khaidi (1983) was a box office success and Chiranjeevi attained stardom with this movie. In 1984, he continued doing action films. A series of box office hits at this time include; Mantri Gari Viyyankudu, Sangharshana, Goonda, Challenge, Hero, Donga, Jwala, Adavi Donga, Kondaveeti Raja, Rakshasudu. In 1985, he received his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for his performance in Vijetha.

### 1987–2007: Commercial success

Chiranjeevi received his first Nandi Award for Best Actor for Swayamkrushi (1987), directed by K. Viswanath. Pasivadi Pranam (1987), Yamudiki Mogudu (1988) and Manchi Donga (1988) also did well at the box office. He co-produced and acted in Rudraveena (1988), which won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, and the Nandi Special Jury Award. The title "Megastar" appeared for the first time in the title cards of the 1988 release Marana Mrudangam, marking its association with Chiranjeevi. He then experimented with Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990), a socio-fantasy directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and produced by Aswini Dutt. Other experimental works at this time include works such as Kondaveeti Donga (1990), the first Telugu film to be released on a 70mm 6-Track stereophonic sound, the western genre Kodama Simham (1990) and the social problem action film Gang Leader (1991), which were box-office hits and led to Chiranjeevi being regarded as the "boss of Telugu cinema". The 1992 film Gharana Mogudu was the first South Indian and Telugu film to collect over ₹ 10 crore in distributor share at the box office. The film was screened at the 1993 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.

Chiranjeevi's Bollywood performances were appreciated in Pratibandh and Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj. For his role in Aapadbandhavudu (1992), he received his second Nandi Award for Best Actor and third Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. The mid-1990s saw a career dip for Chiranjeevi with box office duds such as S. P. Parasuram, The Gentleman, Big Boss and Rikshavodu. There were exceptions, such as Muta Mestri, which fetched him a fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu; Mugguru Monagallu and Alluda Majaka were also successful. In 1996, he appeared in a guest role in the Kannada film Sipayi. After a brief lull, Chiranjeevi bounced back with Hitler, Master, Bavagaru Bagunnara?, Choodalani Vundi and Sneham Kosam, for which he received his fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. In 1999, Chiranjeevi was to appear in a Hollywood production directed by Dushan Garsi, and produced by Rameshkrishna Murthi. The Telugu version was directed by Suresh Krissna. The movie, which was titled The Return of the Thief of Baghdad, had its filming suspended for undisclosed reasons.

Chiranjeevi's new decade started with Annayya (2000). After a brief gap, Chiranjeevi starred in Indra, released in 2002, which broke all his previous box office records of Tollywood and won him his third Nandi Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu. After that, he appeared in films with an underlying message and a social cause, including Tagore; Shankar Dada M.B.B.S., for which he won his seventh and latest Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu; and Stalin. He was awarded the Filmfare Special Award – South in 2006 and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South at the 58th Filmfare Awards South in 2011 for his contributions to the film industry.

### 2008–2016: Hiatus in film career

Following his last film in the lead role, 2007's Shankar Dada Zindabad, Chiranjeevi did not star in any film for approximately 10 years, during which he embarked on his political career. During these 10 years, his appearances in films were limited to cameo roles. He appeared as himself in two films, starring his son Ram Charan, namely Magadheera (2009) and Bruce Lee: The Fighter (2015). He also narrated Varudu (2010) and Rudhramadevi (2015).

### 2017–present: Comeback

From 2013 onwards, he was on the lookout for the right script to mark his comeback into cinema, in what would coincidentally happen to be his 150th film as an actor. A year following the release of the highly successful 2014 Tamil film Kaththi, Chiranjeevi chose to remake that film in Telugu as his comeback film. The remake, titled Khaidi No. 150, directed by V. V. Vinayak, was released during the Sankranti holiday in 2017, about six months short of a decade following Shankar Dada Zindabad, to positive reviews. Critics have singled out Chiranjeevi in particular, praising him for both his performance and appearance, especially following a decade of absence from cinema. The movie collected ₹ 41.75 crore on its opening day and grossed ₹ 164 crore in its lifetime. In 2019, he starred in his first period film Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy based on the life of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy; it was directed by Surender Reddy. The movie made on a budget more than ₹ 200 – 270 crore, grossed more than ₹ 240 crore (equivalent to ₹ 337 crore or US$40 million in 2023) in its theatrical run.

Chiranjeevi had two releases in 2022. His first film was Acharya directed by Koratala Siva co-starring Chiranjeevi’s son Ram Charan. His second release was GodFather directed by Mohan Raja. The film had Salman Khan in an extended cameo role and was largely successful. GodFather subsequently released on Netflix.

Chiranjeevi then starred in the 2023 film Waltair Veerayya directed by Bobby Kolli which released during the Sankranti festival. The film also starred Ravi Teja in an important role, reuniting them on screen after 23 years since the 2000 film Annayya. The film met huge commercial success. Waltair Veerayya later released on Netflix for streaming. In the same year, he also appeared in Bhola Shankar, a remake of the 2015 Tamil blockbuster, Vedalam. However, it opened to unanimously negative reviews and was a huge disaster at the box-office.

He announced his next film, Vishwambhara (2025), with Mallidi Vassishta of Bimbisara (2022) fame.

## Other work

Chiranjeevi is one of the co-owners of the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters FC.

### Television career

Chiranjeevi made his debut as a Television host with the fourth season of Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu. The first episode of the fourth season was aired on 13 February 2017 on Star Maa. The game show is a Telugu-language adaptation of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

## Political career

In August 2008, Chiranjeevi launched his political party, Praja Rajyam Party, in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. At the launch, he stated that social justice was the main agenda of his party. In the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, the party won 18 of the 294 seats and secured a vote share of over 16%. He contested from Tirupati and Palakollu constituencies winning in Tirupati but losing out in Palakollu, in West Godavari district.

On 6 February 2011, the Praja Rajyam Party merged with the Indian National Congress after two weeks of talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The merger was influenced by the Congress party's concerns over a no-confidence motion in the Andhra Pradesh state assembly, spurred by the rise of Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy 's YSR Congress Party and the ongoing Telangana agitation. On 29 March 2012, Chiranjeevi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, where he was elected and took his oath as a member on 3 April. Later that year, on 28 October, he was sworn in as the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism. In 2013, Chiranjeevi inaugurated the Incredible India Exhibition, a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, at the 66th Cannes Film Festival. He also represented Incredible India at the 14th IIFA Awards ceremony held in Macau that same year.

After the split of the state of Andhra Pradesh leaving the residuary state with huge debt and little revenue in June 2014, most members of the Andhra Pradesh wing of Congress party left in protest. Chiranjeevi, however, remained with Congress and campaigned for it as chairman of Election Campaign Committee for 2014 parliamentary and assembly elections in the residual state of Andhra Pradesh. However, he refrained from contesting in elections. There was also speculation that he did not campaign wholeheartedly due to the one-sided decision taken to split Andhra Pradesh. His younger brother, Pawan Kalyan, a former Praja Rajyam Party youth wing leader, launched his own political party, Jana Sena Party, and campaigned vigorously against Congress and in favour of Telugu Desam Party and Bharatiya Janata Party. Due to the strong anti-Congress sentiment prevailing in Andhra Pradesh, its candidates were defeated in all parliamentary and state assembly seats of Andhra Pradesh.

Since the 2014 elections, he has stayed away from active politics and since then, has not attended any meetings of the Congress party, on a regional or national level. His tenure as a Rajya Sabha member ended in April 2018. Although he is currently not active in politics, he was issued with a new All India Congress Committee identity card in 2022 leading to the speculation of his political comeback.

## Humanitarian work

Chiranjeevi established the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT) on 2 October 1998, with the motto that no one should lose their life due to a lack of blood. The trust includes a blood bank and an eye bank and is the largest recipient of blood and eye donations in Andhra Pradesh. As of September 2022, CCT has collected over 930,000 units of blood, with 70% of it provided to the poor free of charge. It has restored eyesight to over 9,060 individuals through 4,580 cornea transplants, and more than 350,000 people have pledged their eyes to CCT. The trust has received several accolades, including the "Best Voluntary Blood Bank Award" from the Andhra Pradesh State Government for five consecutive years from 2002 to 2006. On 10 June 2006, the then President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, inaugurated the Chiranjeevi Charitable Foundation (CCF) at Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad. Chiranjeevi has supported the trust's activities through his earnings, including those from television commercials and promotions.

After Chiranjeevi's entry into politics, actor couple Rajasekhar and Jeevitha made allegations against the Chiranjeevi Blood Bank, accusing it of engaging in financial irregularities. In response, the Andhra Pradesh state government formed a high-level committee to investigate the claims. The committee, guided by the project director of the AP State AIDS Control Society and composed of experts from finance and technical fields, thoroughly examined records related to blood collection and disposal, blood grouping, screening, sterilization, medical waste management, conducted camps, blood expiry, quality control, storage facilities, and equipment purchases. Following the investigation, the blood bank was cleared of any wrongdoing. Authorities confirmed that the blood bank operates in full compliance with the guidelines set by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). In 2023, a Nampally court sentenced Rajasekhar and Jeevitha to one year in jail and imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh for their defamatory remarks against the blood bank. The couple, however, obtained bail.

In May 2021, Chiranjeevi set up oxygen banks and ambulances across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to meet the needs of patients affected by COVID-19.

## Awards, honours and recognitions

Director K. Balachander said, "Chiranjeevi has both Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in him. Not only can he do action, he can also act." Chiranjeevi received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India in the year 2006. In the same year, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Andhra University for his contribution to films and his social service through the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust. He is a nine-time winner of Filmfare Awards South and a three-time winner of Nandi Awards. In 2013, CNN-IBN recognized him as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema". In 2014, he was awarded International Face of Indian Cinema at the 3rd South Indian International Movie Awards by Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor. He was the first actor from South India to be invited to the Oscars ceremony in 1987.

### Civilian honours

- 2006 – Padma Bhushan from the Government of India

- 2024 – Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India

### National honours

- 2022 – IFFI Indian Film Personality of the Year Award

### State honours

- 2016 – Raghupathi Venkaiah Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh

### Acting honours

- Best Actor – Swayam Krushi (1987)

- Best Actor – Khaidi No. 150 (2017)

- Best Actor – Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019)

- 2006 – Honorary doctorate from the Andhra University

- SIIMA Awards - International Face of Indian Cinema – (2014)