Laura Valentina Cortes Sierra

When Diana, a bisexual Russian asylum seeker, took part in her first Madrid Pride festival last year, she was delighted to see people waving the white-blue-white flag that has become a symbol of Russian opposition to its war on Ukraine.

She was also ecstatic to be among around 100 Russians who were waving LGBTQ+ flags and chanting, "Russia without Putin". It felt surreal, said the 24-year-old, who did not want to give her last name for fear of retaliation.