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Gay News: The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Moscow acted illegally in banning Gay Pride marches.
By: Nigel Robinson
Nikolai Alexeyev
Nikolai Alexeyev
Gay Russians win in European Court of Human Rights
21 October 2010
Gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev had lodged three cases with the Court, arguing that Russia had violated the European Convention on Human Rights.
In a landmark judgement, the Court ruled that, by banning Gay Pride marches in Moscow over a period of several years, Russia had violated the right to assembly and had discriminated on ground of sexual orientation.
Former Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov had repeatedly banned Gay Pride marches in the capital, describing them as “satanic happenings” and comparing “same-sex so-called love” to “social plagues” such as drug abuse and xenophobia.
The official line from Moscow city hall had been that Gay Pride demonstrations would have caused public arrest but the Court ruled that the mere risk of a demonstration was not enough to justify a ban.
Russia was ordered to pay 29,510 Euros to Alexeyev in damages and legal fees.
Alexeyev, who has also claimed that he had been abducted by the authorities and pressurised to withdraw his case, said: “This is a crippling blow to Russian homophobia on all accounts.”
Fellow gay rights activist, Peter Tatchell, who has accompanied Alexeyev on Moscow Gay Pride marches which were broken up by the police said:;
“This is an astonishing victory. Nicolai and his small band of daring LGBT activists have taken on the might of the Russian state – and won.
“It is a triumph for LGBT Russians and for all Russians who love liberty.”
