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Moscow Madness

The Mayor of Moscow banned gay pride again. Activists, including our own Peter Tatchell, travelled far and wide to deliver a letter of support for the march. Once again, this has resulted in assaults from counter protesters and minimal protection from the police – even though homosexuality has been legal in Russia since 2003.

The march was to be held on central Moscow's Tverskaya Street, but for the second year running, was denied permission by the city's uber-conservative Mayor Yury Luzhkov, who has called it "satanic." Around 100 Protesters, gathered outside the capital's City Hall to submit a letter of protest that had been signed by around 50 members of the EU parliament.

Russia is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires it to allow demonstrations. But hey ho, it’s just perverts kicking off again, isn’t it?

The hostile crowd at Sunday's demonstration included people carrying crosses and wearing Orthodox Church clothing. It seems that once again certain voices within the church lose sight of Jesus’ central message of inclusion and love, and would rather be a part of a monstrous force of oppression. As Terry Sanderson might say, it’s Beyond Belief.

If you want to add your voice to the protest, write to the Russian Ambassador at the following email the Russian embassy office@rusemblon.org Or write to HE Mr. Yury V.Fedotov, The Russian Embassy, 6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QP