News & Opinion
Police Break Up Unauthorized LGBT Pride in Russia
The rally was the target of anti-gay attacks and resulted in 15 arrests.
May 30 2015 7:10 PM EST
May 31 2015 9:48 PM EST
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The rally was the target of anti-gay attacks and resulted in 15 arrests.
Photo: Dmitry Serebryakov/Getty Images
Police arrested around 15 pro- and anti- LGBT protestors after an unauthorized LGBT rights rally Saturday turned into a violent attack in Moscow, Russia.
For the tenth consecutive year, Moscow authorities have denied a request to hold a gay pride parade, which would have taken place today. The ongoing effort culminated in a demonstration at Tverskaya Square.
Riot police had already lined the square when the LGBT activists had arrived. They held signs and a rainbow flag that read, "Make love not war."
Although they initiated a peaceful protest, anti-gay activists attacked the demonstrators and fights were quickly broken up by police.
"It is lawlessness of Moscow's and Russian authorities -- what is happening here is a complete lawlessness. We are just trying to hold a peaceful human rights action," Nikolai Alexeyev, a Russian gay rights activist, shouted as he was forced into a police van.
Although progress is slow in Russia, it's clear that the fight is not over.
(Reuters)