RUSSIA: Dozens of pro- and anti-gay rights activists are detained in St. Petersburg after a failed attempt to hold an unauthorised rally in support of the rights of homosexuals.

Record ID: 213992

  • Title: RUSSIA: Dozens of pro- and anti-gay rights activists are detained in St. Petersburg after a failed attempt to hold an unauthorised rally in support of the rights of homosexuals.
  • Date: 29th June 2013
  • Summary: ST. PETERSBURG (JUNE 29, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING BEHIND POLICE BARRIER PRO-GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS CHANTING WITH RAINBOW FLAGS POLICE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHANTING AGAINST GAY RIGHTS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ANTI-GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST IGOR RACHIKHIN, SAYING: "We had to come here today because I think that this movement is disastrous for Russia." POLICE LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRO-GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST KONSTANTIN DOMYSHEV, SAYING: "We protect the rights of the Russian citizens here, of all the citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or their views on life and so on." POLICE ON MARS FIELD OBSERVING ACTIVISTS GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST SPEAKING INTO LOUDSPEAKER POLICE DETAINING ACTIVISTS GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HOLDING BANNERS VARIOUS OF POLICE DETAINING ACTIVISTS, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HOLDING RAINBOW FLAG GAY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PROTESTING ANTI-GAY ACTIVISTS SHOUTING VARIOUS OF POLICE DETAINING ACTIVISTS MEDIA SURROUNDING ACTIVISTS POLICE STANDING NEXT TO ACTIVIST ACTIVIST STANDING WITH BLOOD ON HIS FACE POLICEMAN TAKING HIS COLLEAGUE AWAY FROM SCENE
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAB6GDIALEDCWUPH89DO9YQNMMN
  • Story Text: Police detained dozens of people when pro- and anti-gay rights activists clashed in the Russian city of St Petersburg on Saturday (June 29). The protests came just two weeks after parliament passed a law banning homosexual "propaganda".
    Critics say the bill - a nationwide version of laws in place in cities including St Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin's hometown, - effectively bans gay rights rallies and could be used to prosecute anyone voicing support for homosexuals.
    Up to 100 people took part in the march to protest against the law, confronted by an equal number of anti-gay activists, who threw eggs, smoke flares and stones at them.
    Police intervened with batons to stop the violence and detained dozens of people.
    "We had to come here today because I think that this movement (gay movement) is disastrous for Russia," said Igor Rachikhin, an anti-gay activist.
    At the same time gay rights activist Konstantin Domyshev said he took to the street to support the rights of all Russian citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation.
    "We protect rights of the Russian citizens here, of all the citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or their views on life and so on," he said.
    The march was organised by the group "Ravnopraviye" (Equal Rights).
    The incident highlights increasing intolerance in Russian society towards gay people and a toughening of laws aimed at stifling any dissent against the rule of Putin in general.
    The bill passed by the lower house on June 11 bans the spreading of "propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations" to minors and sets heavy fines for violations. It has yet to be signed into law by Putin.
    There are no official figures on homophobic crime in Russia, but in an online poll last year, 15 percent of about 900 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender respondents said they had been physically attacked at least once in the previous 10 months.
    Putin, who has embraced the Russian Orthodox Church as a moral authority and harnessed its influence as a source of political support, has championed socially conservative values since starting a new, six-year term in May 2012.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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