Gay rights protest in St Petersburg (Russia) ends in clashes [View all]
Last edited Sat Oct 12, 2013, 09:25 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Guardian
Police have arrested 67 people after a fight broke out between gay rights activists and their opponents at a demonstration in the Russian city of St Petersburg.
Gay rights campaigners in Russia have held several small protests since the adoption of a law in June banning "homosexual propaganda" directed at children. Critics say the law curtails gay people's rights to free speech and assembly.
The issue has attracted growing international attention before Russia's hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year. Gay rights activists have called for participants and sponsors to boycott the games in protest at the law.
The disturbance in central St Petersburg began after a group of around 15 gay rights activists tried to hold a demonstration to mark International Coming Out Day. They were far outnumbered by the anti-gay demonstrators, including several dressed as Cossacks and orthodox priests, who had occupied the site of the planned demo.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/12/gay-rights-protest-st-petersburg-arrests
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