RUSSIA-ST. PETERSBURG/GAY PROTEST St. Petersburg police detain gay activists trying to hold protest

Record ID: 145412

  • Title: RUSSIA-ST. PETERSBURG/GAY PROTEST St. Petersburg police detain gay activists trying to hold protest
  • Date: 2nd August 2015
  • Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (AUGUST 2, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS PROFANITY*** FLAG OF RUSSIAN AIRBORNE FORCES EX-PARATROOPERS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH WITH AIRBORNE TROOPS' FLAG POLICE CARS PARKED ON PALACE SQUARE POLICE VAN DRIVING THROUGH SQUARE POLICE DETAIN FEMALE GAY ACTIVIST HOLDING RAINBOW FLAG DETAINED GAY ACTIVISTS GETTING INTO POLICE VAN TWO EX-PARATROOPERS ON
  • Embargoed: 17th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA84H6PKWJ44FKW2A3MOJIJVFEE
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS PROFANITY
    St. Petersburg police detained gay activists on Sunday (August 2) as they tried to stage an unsanctioned protest.
    A handful of protesters - some holding rainbow flags, others posters in support of gay rights - gathered on the city's central Palace Square in the early afternoon.
    The protest organiser, Yuri Gavrikov, didn't make it, as he was detained by police as he was leaving his house.
    Several ex-paratroopers, who were celebrating Russian Airborne Troops' Day on the square, attacked the gay activists.
    "We will beat up all these gays, we will beat them up. We are airborne troops, we are from the 76th Air Assault Brigade," said one.
    The campaigners were protesting against the city authority's continued refusal to allow a gay pride parade to be held in St. Petersburg.
    "I am a human being and I want to be respected. I have my own pride and that's why I am standing here now," said St. Petersburg gay activist, Alexei Nazarov, after police pushed away another paratrooper who tried to attack him.
    A female activist was taken to a police van after she unfurled a rainbow flag, while a young man was also detained.
    "I am proud of who I am and I am worried about the person who was detained today," said Nazarov.
    Another gay activist unfurled a poster condemning the city administration for refusing to allow a gay pride parade in the city.
    Ex-paratroopers tried to attack him, but were held back by police.
    City authorities said three gay activists were detained at Palace Square on Sunday.
    The LGBT community has come under increased pressure in Russia as President Vladimir Putin has charted a more conservative course since starting his third term in 2012.
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