Moscow Pride '10  : May 27-29, 2010

Moscow Pride 2010 will mark a jubilee !

For the 5th time, Russian LGBT activists will attempt to host a march for the rights of sexual minorities in Moscow - also known as a gay pride.

It is unlikely that the Mayor of Moscow changes its position and therefore, the organizers expect the event to be baned again.

However, the European Court of Human Rights has opened the case of the ban of the Moscow Pride 2006, 2007 and 2008. Russian authorities have been given until January 20, 2010 to transfer their position on this issue. A decision of the Court prior to the 5th Moscow Pride is possible, although not guaranteed.

What can you do to help ? Russia is a Member of the Council of Europe and as such, the country has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights.

According to the Russian Constitution, the international obligations of the country are higher than the internal laws. The European Court of Human Rights as already set a precedent in 2006 when it judged that a gay pride march in Warsaw could not be banned on security ground. Ask the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to force Russia respecting rights to freedom of assembly for LGBT people in Russia. Send an email to cm@coe.int

The second Slavic Pride will take place in Minsk (Belarus) on May 15, 2010.  A dedicated website for the Slavic Pride will be launched soon.

Further announcement concening Moscow Pride 2010 and Slavic Pride 2010 will be made during autumn 2009.