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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Russia complains over 'gay bar' on president's plot in Finland | Russia complains over 'gay bar' on president's plot in Finland |
| (35 minutes 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. | 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.” |
| • This article was amended on 17 September 2015. An earlier version referred to the “island of Fasta”. Fasta means mainland, and the largest of the Aland islands is referred to as Fasta Aland. |