Moscow authorities broke up a picket of gays and lesbians
On Wednesday, 27 June, about 25 gay and lesbian activists gathered in front of building of European Commission representative office in Moscow to protest against homophobic Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. They were supported by activists of Liberal and Libertarian movements “Russian Radicals” and “Free Radicals”.
They demanded EU visa ban on Mr. Luzhkov like on Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Both politicians continuously violate human rights.
But just few minutes after the rally began the police broke up the demonstration. The formal reason was the construction which had suddenly appeared in front of European Commission office just a day ago. The police argued it could not protect demonstrators in this situation so the picket should be canceled.
The picket had been approved by the city authorities on Monday. But on Tuesday evening organizers of the picket received telephone calls from authorities that the rally could not be held because of the construction. On Wednesday the situation became complicated, authorities said that they could not guarantee the safety of demonstrators. Finally the police showed to activists a new paper which banned their action.
The reasons of the police are absolutely absurd. Activists applied this picket as a demonstration which formally was not related to the Moscow gay community. Among picket organizers was no one who was known by the homophobic authorities as gay or lesbian activist. Therefore the picket was originally approved in such an easy way.
But as soon as mass media announced the picket as a demonstration of LGBT people, the Moscow authorities decided to cancel the rally. And the demonstrators got a lot of problems.
This is a very clear example of homophobic discrimination which is practiced by the Luzhkov’s administration. City authorities made their best in order to cancel the picket which was organized by gays and lesbians. Luzhkov’s homophobic administration showed again its discriminating policy to the whole world.
The construction which has been started a day before the picket was looking like a sort of “Potemkin village” – an imitation rapidly constructed by order of authorities. There was no construction technique, just two holes digged on a huge and enclosed area. Perhaps this “construction” will disappear in few days as suddenly as it appeared.
Three gay activists were detained by the police in front of European Commission representative office. They were accused in “breach of a street manifestation order” which carries an administrative fine.
Participants of the picket gave to the European Commission representative office in Moscow a petition with demand EU visa ban on Mr. Luzkov. The petition is addressed to the Chairman of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. It says of regular violations of freedom of assembly by Mr. Luzhkov and of his homophobic policy.
Nikolai Baev, GayRussia.Ru, photo Reuters
