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Police Break Up Unauthorized LGBT Pride in Russia

Police Break Up Unauthorized LGBT Pride in Russia

Police Break Up Unauthorized LGBT Pride in Russia

The rally was the target of anti-gay attacks and resulted in 15 arrests.

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)

 
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