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| Ukrainian gay couple pepper-sprayed while holding hands in Kiev – but that's not the main message in latest social experiment video | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man sits on his partner's lap, holding a bunch of flowers as the gay couple chat on a bench on Khreshchatyk Street, the main street in Kiev, Ukraine. | A man sits on his partner's lap, holding a bunch of flowers as the gay couple chat on a bench on Khreshchatyk Street, the main street in Kiev, Ukraine. |
| The pair - Zoryan Kis and Tymur Levchuk - are approached by a gang of men described as neo-Nazis, who begin to talk to the pair about whether they see themselves as patriotic Ukrainians, as well as teasing them that they seem to think they live in the USA, a reference to the recent decision by the Supreme Court to legalise same-sex marriage across the 50 states. | The pair - Zoryan Kis and Tymur Levchuk - are approached by a gang of men described as neo-Nazis, who begin to talk to the pair about whether they see themselves as patriotic Ukrainians, as well as teasing them that they seem to think they live in the USA, a reference to the recent decision by the Supreme Court to legalise same-sex marriage across the 50 states. |
| It eventually turns out that this supposedly calm group of far-right supporters aren't necessarily in the mood for a debate about patriotism and American politics, but are instead biding their time until the nearby police patrol has left the area. | It eventually turns out that this supposedly calm group of far-right supporters aren't necessarily in the mood for a debate about patriotism and American politics, but are instead biding their time until the nearby police patrol has left the area. |
| Once the officers are disappeared, one of the men pepper-sprays the couple with the others proceeding to kick at the pair. A person runs to fend off the attackers while the couple stand up and walk away, clearly shocked. | Once the officers are disappeared, one of the men pepper-sprays the couple with the others proceeding to kick at the pair. A person runs to fend off the attackers while the couple stand up and walk away, clearly shocked. |
| Difference to Russia? | Difference to Russia? |
| While this is the most eye-opening event during the pair's walk around the capital, the couple were at pains to point out that it was not representative of what the overriding response from the public was to them holding hands over the course of an hour in Kiev. | While this is the most eye-opening event during the pair's walk around the capital, the couple were at pains to point out that it was not representative of what the overriding response from the public was to them holding hands over the course of an hour in Kiev. |
| Zoryan Kis explains at the end of the video: "What conclusion can we make? That in our society there are a few aggressive homophobic radicals who are ready for physical violence. Other people just don’t care as long as it does not concern them personally. And this minority tries to force everyone to play by their rules." | Zoryan Kis explains at the end of the video: "What conclusion can we make? That in our society there are a few aggressive homophobic radicals who are ready for physical violence. Other people just don’t care as long as it does not concern them personally. And this minority tries to force everyone to play by their rules." |
| "We saw a lot of verbal insults in Moscow, and we did not see it here. People could have been thinking something along these lines, but they decided not to say it aloud. This alone is a step forward." | "We saw a lot of verbal insults in Moscow, and we did not see it here. People could have been thinking something along these lines, but they decided not to say it aloud. This alone is a step forward." |
| The Ukrainian parliament is currently debating the issue of same-sex partnerships, although church leaders have condemned any plans to permit any form of gay marriage in the country. | The Ukrainian parliament is currently debating the issue of same-sex partnerships, although church leaders have condemned any plans to permit any form of gay marriage in the country. |
| In May, a gay rights march was attacked by a number of people hurling teargas and smoke bombs at the event in Kiev. | In May, a gay rights march was attacked by a number of people hurling teargas and smoke bombs at the event in Kiev. |
| Russian response to social experiment | Russian response to social experiment |
| Since the release of the Russian video, The Independent approached LGBT people in Russia to come forward and state whether the depiction of the Russian public - as overtly homophobic - was accurate. | Since the release of the Russian video, The Independent approached LGBT people in Russia to come forward and state whether the depiction of the Russian public - as overtly homophobic - was accurate. |
| Olga Andreevskikh said, "I must say, what is happening in the video seems quite true to life. From the Russian society's point of view, it is not acceptable or common for men to walk hand-in-hand. Such open and brave behaviour cannot but provoke aggression on the part of less tolerant or less well-mannered members of the society. Some of my gay friends told me they risked walking along the streets holding their partner's hand, but these are normally very rare occasions and this can only be done in very busy places where they can, should it be necessary, get help from passers-by or the police." | Olga Andreevskikh said, "I must say, what is happening in the video seems quite true to life. From the Russian society's point of view, it is not acceptable or common for men to walk hand-in-hand. Such open and brave behaviour cannot but provoke aggression on the part of less tolerant or less well-mannered members of the society. Some of my gay friends told me they risked walking along the streets holding their partner's hand, but these are normally very rare occasions and this can only be done in very busy places where they can, should it be necessary, get help from passers-by or the police." |
| Edwin Be wrote that the video was "very accurate" for the situation in Moscow and St Petersburg. "I live in Moscow and I will never hold hands with my boyfriend in public out of security; I don't want him to be fired or dead." | Edwin Be wrote that the video was "very accurate" for the situation in Moscow and St Petersburg. "I live in Moscow and I will never hold hands with my boyfriend in public out of security; I don't want him to be fired or dead." |
| Aleksej Korolev said that the video even showed a "moderate" reaction of the public to gay people given that it was filmed in the capital, Moscow. | Aleksej Korolev said that the video even showed a "moderate" reaction of the public to gay people given that it was filmed in the capital, Moscow. |
| "In other regions the situation is much graver. We need the videos like that to make the problem of homophobia more visible. I hope that this project is not the last one." | "In other regions the situation is much graver. We need the videos like that to make the problem of homophobia more visible. I hope that this project is not the last one." |
| In a December 2014, 85-page report on the LGBT situation in Russia, Human Rights Watch said that Russian authorities had "failed in their obligation to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence." HRW found that President Putin's anti-LGBT law of June 2013 had "effectively legalised discrimination against LGBT people and cast them as second-class citizens," with violence occurring in the run up to the signing of the bill and in the aftermath of its implementation. | In a December 2014, 85-page report on the LGBT situation in Russia, Human Rights Watch said that Russian authorities had "failed in their obligation to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence." HRW found that President Putin's anti-LGBT law of June 2013 had "effectively legalised discrimination against LGBT people and cast them as second-class citizens," with violence occurring in the run up to the signing of the bill and in the aftermath of its implementation. |
| Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director Denis Krivosheev told The Independent: "Unfortunately, the video provides an accurate depiction of the homophobic atmosphere that gay people in Russia are commonly confronted by. | Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director Denis Krivosheev told The Independent: "Unfortunately, the video provides an accurate depiction of the homophobic atmosphere that gay people in Russia are commonly confronted by. |
| "Anti-gay sentiments have become almost normalised. It's shocking and needs to change". | "Anti-gay sentiments have become almost normalised. It's shocking and needs to change". |