Police Break Up Unauthorized LGBT Pride in Russia

Photo: Dmitry Serebryakov/AFP

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)