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| Arrests at Russian gay protests | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Two West European MPs and a Russian gay rights leader have been arrested in Moscow, as violence broke out at a banned protest by gay rights activists. | Two West European MPs and a Russian gay rights leader have been arrested in Moscow, as violence broke out at a banned protest by gay rights activists. |
| Anti-homosexual protesters threw kicks, punches and eggs at the gay rights group, chanting "Moscow is not Sodom". | Anti-homosexual protesters threw kicks, punches and eggs at the gay rights group, chanting "Moscow is not Sodom". |
| The gay rights demonstrators were trying to deliver a petition to the mayor of Moscow, demanding the right to stage public marches. | The gay rights demonstrators were trying to deliver a petition to the mayor of Moscow, demanding the right to stage public marches. |
| MPs from Germany and Italy were reportedly among those arrested. | MPs from Germany and Italy were reportedly among those arrested. |
| Veteran British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell was arrested, along with the leader of GayRussia, Nikolai Alexeyev. | Veteran British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell was arrested, along with the leader of GayRussia, Nikolai Alexeyev. |
| Mr Tatchell was punched in the face before being detained. | Mr Tatchell was punched in the face before being detained. |
| Italian MEP Marco Cappato was kicked by an anti-gay rights protester and then arrested when he demanded police protection. | |
| Protesters warned | Protesters warned |
| Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov has called homosexuality "satanic" and says he will never allow gay rights parades in Russia's capital. | Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov has called homosexuality "satanic" and says he will never allow gay rights parades in Russia's capital. |
| Gay activists were also attacked by right-wing protesters and arrested during a march last year. | Gay activists were also attacked by right-wing protesters and arrested during a march last year. |
| Sunday's protest was to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Russia. | Sunday's protest was to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Russia. |
| Moscow city police spokesman Viktor Bryukov had warned the organisers not to go ahead. | Moscow city police spokesman Viktor Bryukov had warned the organisers not to go ahead. |
| "Moscow police don't have the right to encroach on the law to pander to a group of citizens who exploit the theme of human rights while distorting this notion," he said. | "Moscow police don't have the right to encroach on the law to pander to a group of citizens who exploit the theme of human rights while distorting this notion," he said. |
| On Saturday, right-wingers and members of the Russian Orthodox Church held an anti-gay demonstration in Moscow. | On Saturday, right-wingers and members of the Russian Orthodox Church held an anti-gay demonstration in Moscow. |
| The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, supports the ban on gay parades. | The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, supports the ban on gay parades. |
| Gay activists in Russia were divided over whether the protest should be held. | Gay activists in Russia were divided over whether the protest should be held. |
| Some fear it could provoke a backlash. | Some fear it could provoke a backlash. |