- Title: RUSSIA: Gay protesters arrested on Red Square as Olympics kick off in Sochi
- Date: 7th February 2014
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FEBRUARY 7, 2014) (REUTERS) GROUP OF LGBT PROTESTERS WAVING RAINBOW RIBBONS AND SINGING RUSSIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM IN RED SQUARE VARIOUS OF POLICE DETAINING PROTESTERS TWO GIRLS HOLDING SMALL RAINBOW FLAG AND SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM POLICE APPROACHING GIRLS AND ESCORTING THEM AWAY YOUNG MAN BEING DETAINED AND CARRIED AWAY BY POLICE WHILE SHOUTING (Russian): R
- Embargoed: 22nd February 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Politics,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAO4MR1YVTVL68Y3WOKPUQ2L4W
- Story Text: Russian police detained ten gay rights protesters on Moscow's central Red Square on Friday (February 7) as activists tried to unfurl rainbow flags.
The protest was timed to coincide with the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has faced international criticism for a law he signed last year banning "gay propaganda".
Other gay activists confirmed the detentions, but police could not immediately confirm the information.
A list posted by one activist on Facebook said two of those detained were women from Sweden.
The detentions follow the arrests of four gay rights protesters who unfurled a banner in St Petersburg on Friday declaring "Discrimination is incompatible with the Olympic Movement", gay rights group All Out said.
The police in Russia's second city were not immediately available to comment on the incident.
Putin, who has defended the law banning gay "propaganda" among minors as reflecting Russia's moral traditions, said there will be no discrimination at the Games.
Supporters of All Out said the group had been rounded up by police soon after they started to protest.
Gay rights groups say the new law discriminates against gays and that it has fuelled attacks on homosexuals in Russia, but Putin says it is needed to protect young people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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