Russia’s Constitutional Court has upheld the controversial law banning “gay propaganda” among minors, as it is not in breach of the Constitution.

Russian gay activists Nikolai Alexeev, Yaroslav Yevtushenko and Dmitry Isakov filed a formal complaint after they were found in violation the law and fined 4,000 rubles each. The complainants stated that the law, which banned “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” was discriminatory and violated their right to free speech.

According to a statement from the court that was released today, “the contested provisions [of the Russian legislation] are not intended to ban homosexuality as is, and cannot be viewed as allowing to curb the rights of citizens based on their sexual orientation. They also do not imply a ban on any information concerning unorthodox sexual relations.”

Individuals can be fined up to 4,000 rubles (€80) if they are found to be in violation of the law, while legal entities can face fines as high as to (€20,500). Legal entities may also be suspended for 90 days for disseminating “gay propaganda” among minors.

The bill, which was signed into law by President Vladimir Putin in 2013, has caused a wave of backlash from LGBT rights activists across Russia and worldwide.