Russia’s parliament passed a law on Thursday expanding an existing ban on promoting LGBT propaganda to children by banning it among people of all ages. Under the new bill, passed unanimously on its first reading by the lower house State Duma, any event or act deemed to promote homosexuality – online, in film, in books, in advertising or in public – could incur a hefty fine.

Lawmakers said they are defending morality in the face of un-Russian liberal values promoted by the West.

Under the legislation, citizens could be fined up to 400,000 roubles ($6,500) for promoting LGBT propaganda, Reuters has reported. Legal entities face fines of up to 5 million roubles, while foreigners found guilty of offences would face deportation from Russia.

“We are not banning references to LGBT as a phenomenon. We are banning propaganda and the wording is extremely important here,” One of the key architects of the bill, lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein said at a hearing last week.

“LGBT today is an element of hybrid warfare and in this hybrid warfare we must protect our values, our society and our children,” added.