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Gay News: Moscow sees its first gay Pride with no arrests or violence as activists trick the police
By: Nigel Robinson
Moscow Pride - a big political vistory
About thirty LGBT activists staged a ten-minute flashmob-style Gay Pride march on Leningradsky Street.
Moscow Pride - a big political vistory
Moscow Pride fools police
Despite Mayor Yury Luzhkov banning the event, Moscow Pride went off with no trouble and no arrests at the weekend.
About thirty LGBT activists staged a ten-minute flashmob-style Gay Pride march on Leningradsky Street.
They carried a twenty-metre long rainbow flag and placards in English reading “"Rights for gays", and chanted “No homophobia” and “Russia without homophobes”.
By the time the authorities arrived the march had already dispersed and the police discovered that they had no one to arrest.
Gay rights organiser, Peter Tatchell, who was on the march revealed that police had been fed false information on the planned location of the demonstration, suggesting that it would take place outside the office of the EU Commission.
As a result, the police closed down the whole area including nearby put the whole area in total lockdown, closing nearby streets and metro stations, in a bid to prevent protesters assembling there.
"This was the fifth Moscow Gay Pride and the first one with no arrests and bashings,” said Tatchell.
"This was the fifth Moscow Gay Pride and the first one with no arrests and bashings,” said Tatchell.
"The Russian gay activists have won a big political and moral victory.
“They staged their Gay Pride march, despite it being banned by the Mayor and the judges, and despite the draconian efforts by the police and FSB security services to prevent it from taking place.
“I pay tribute to the courage and ingenuity of the Russian gay and lesbian activists. They outwitted the Mayor and his police henchmen.”
