Gay parades in Russia banned for the next 100 years

In Russia will not be another legal gay pride held in Moscow during next 100 years. Prominent equality activist Nikolay Alexeyev, however, promises to continuing to fight for his and others’ civil rights.

The Moscow City Court has confirmed for the second time its ruling banning all LGBT pride events in the Russian capital for the next century.

The court rejected a cassation appeal filed by Nikolai Alekseyev, the leader of a Russian gay rights community and the organizer of previous gay pride events. Alekseyev wanted the case to be passed to the Presidium of the Moscow City Court for reconsideration.

‘ In the nearest future we will contest the authorities’ actions over the 100-year ban on gay pride events in the European Court of Human Rights. Through this we will eventually achieve that the bans are recognized as unlawful, not only for the past, but for the future gay parades in the Russian capital ‘, Alekseyev said.

Anti-gay Moscow / Gay parades prohibition in Russia for the 100 years

Nikolay Alekseyev also opposes St Petersburg’s ban on spreading homosexual propaganda. The European Court of Human Rights has told Russia to pay him damages.

Russian activist Alekseyev has said he would go back to the European Court in Strasbourg to push for a recognition that Russian’s ban on gay pride marches – past, present and future – was unjust.

The Moscow city government argues that the gay parade would risk causing public disorder and that most Muscovites do not support such an event. In September this year the Council of Europe will examine Russia’s response to a previous European Court ruling on the gay rights issue.

In October 2010 the court said Russia had discriminated against Nikolay Alexeyev on grounds of sexual orientation. It had considered Moscow’s ban on gay parades covering the period 2006-2008.

The Russian government began a legal campaign this year against alleged homosexual propaganda. A law against promotion of homosexuality and pedophilia was approved and enacted in St. Petersburg, prompting a group of parliamentarians to suggest approving a similar national law.