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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Russia complains over 'gay bar' on president's plot in Finland | Russia complains over 'gay bar' on president's plot in Finland |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Police in Finland have received a complaint after two pranksters erected a makeshift gay bar based on the famous Blue Oyster from the Police Academy films to protest against Russia’s anti-gay laws. | Police in Finland have received a complaint after two pranksters erected a makeshift gay bar based on the famous Blue Oyster from the Police Academy films to protest against Russia’s anti-gay laws. |
| The gay bar, a wooden structure hung with fairy lights and decorated with blue lettering, was built last weekend on a plot of land that belonged to the Russian presidency on the remote Åland archipelago, a Swedish-speaking region of Finland. | The gay bar, a wooden structure hung with fairy lights and decorated with blue lettering, was built last weekend on a plot of land that belonged to the Russian presidency on the remote Åland archipelago, a Swedish-speaking region of Finland. |
| Pictures posted by the pranksters from the scene show people outside the bar, some clad in leather and wearing yellow builders’ helmets, with one couple kissing. | Pictures posted by the pranksters from the scene show people outside the bar, some clad in leather and wearing yellow builders’ helmets, with one couple kissing. |
| “This is pure hooliganism,” Russian consul Mikhail Zubov told Finnish news agency STT. | “This is pure hooliganism,” Russian consul Mikhail Zubov told Finnish news agency STT. |
| Some wags have opened a Blue Oyster Bar on Vladimir Putin's plot of land on Åland and dressed as gay workmen. Genius pic.twitter.com/CGNkFpPe5V | Some wags have opened a Blue Oyster Bar on Vladimir Putin's plot of land on Åland and dressed as gay workmen. Genius pic.twitter.com/CGNkFpPe5V |
| The bar, outside the village of Saltvik, has been erected by the Swedish comedy hip-hop duo Far & Son, who told local media they were doing it to protest against Russia’s gay propaganda law - which forbids the “promotion” of homosexuality - and a crackdown on gay rights in the country. | The bar, outside the village of Saltvik, has been erected by the Swedish comedy hip-hop duo Far & Son, who told local media they were doing it to protest against Russia’s gay propaganda law - which forbids the “promotion” of homosexuality - and a crackdown on gay rights in the country. |
| “We expected a bit more of a vigorous response from the Russians and that they would immediately send the Scud missiles into the gay bar, but it seems they can’t keep up with Far & Son,” the comedians told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. “They are simply cowards.” | “We expected a bit more of a vigorous response from the Russians and that they would immediately send the Scud missiles into the gay bar, but it seems they can’t keep up with Far & Son,” the comedians told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. “They are simply cowards.” |
| Related: Elton John should talk to Putin about gay rights. But will Russia listen? | Mary Dejevsky | Related: Elton John should talk to Putin about gay rights. But will Russia listen? | Mary Dejevsky |
| Approximately 28,000 people live on the Åland Islands, but 90% of them reside on the largest island. The archipelago lies between Finland and Sweden, but one uninhabited property is owned by the Russian presidency, having once been owned by a German-Finnish couple. | |
| The waterfront plot became Russian property in 1947 under second world war peace treaties which saw all German-owned items given to the Soviet Union. | The waterfront plot became Russian property in 1947 under second world war peace treaties which saw all German-owned items given to the Soviet Union. |
| Åland police confirmed they had received a complaint about the incident on Sunday, and said the area belonged to the Russian state. | Åland police confirmed they had received a complaint about the incident on Sunday, and said the area belonged to the Russian state. |
| “The perpetrators forced their way into the area and built something, leaving their rubbish behind. The incident has attracted attention, including in the local media,” they said. | “The perpetrators forced their way into the area and built something, leaving their rubbish behind. The incident has attracted attention, including in the local media,” they said. |
| “This incident has been classed as trespassing, as well as some sanitation violations. | “This incident has been classed as trespassing, as well as some sanitation violations. |
| “Police have been in contact with the Russian consul and documented the crime scene.” | “Police have been in contact with the Russian consul and documented the crime scene.” |
| The crime could be punishable by up to three months in prison but Far & Son told Aftonbladet they were not afraid. “I think someone will build this again with cement next year. Then it will remain there forever. | The crime could be punishable by up to three months in prison but Far & Son told Aftonbladet they were not afraid. “I think someone will build this again with cement next year. Then it will remain there forever. |
| “The Blue Oyster will be the only thing you can see from the moon, apart from the Great Wall of China. They will never take us alive.” | “The Blue Oyster will be the only thing you can see from the moon, apart from the Great Wall of China. They will never take us alive.” |