Moscow gays to march during Eurovision
AFP
A Russian gay rights group has decided to hold its annual gay pride parade on the day Moscow hosts the Eurovision Song Contest finals, even if it fails to secure an authorisation, a report said.
"The gay pride parade's organisational committee decided on Sunday that the parade will be held on May 16, on the day of the Eurovision contest finals are held," Nikolai Alexeyev, leader of the Gay Russia organisation, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency late Sunday.
"We will seek ways to legally hold the parade, but if we are refused, we will still march," Alexeyev said, adding however that "we do not want to discredit Russia in the Eurovision finals and are ready for any kind of talks with the authorities."
Mayor Yury Luzhkov -- who in 2007 described gay parades as "Satan's work" -- has repeatedly refused permission for such events.
For three years in a row the unauthorised annual demonstration has descended violence and arrests of the parade's participants.
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Mayor Yury Luzhkov -- who in 2007 described gay parades as "Satan's work" -- has repeatedly refused permission for such events.
For three years in a row the unauthorised annual demonstration has descended violence and arrests of the parade's participants.
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