Gay Pride Marches Banned in Moscow for 100 Years

[Guest fountainhall]

Putin's heavy hand has come down not only on the Pussy Riot members who have today been jailed for two years. Now Moscow's top court has seen fit to ban gay pride marches in the city, not just for a few years - but for all of the next 100 years!

 

The Moscow city government argues that the gay parade would risk causing public disorder and that most Muscovites do not support such an event.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-19293465

 

Russia's best-known gay rights campaigner, Nikolay Alexeyev, said he would go back to the European Court of Justice for recognition that such a ban is unjust.

[Rogie]

If you ask me Russia is little better off now than the Soviet Union was under the hammer and sickle. Those soviet republics that broke away to regain their independence from the yoke of Mother Russia must be feeling mightily relieved not to be taking orders from comrade Putin.

 

Putin is the puppet master and the Russian people are his playthings, or monkeys to use the organ grinder analogy.

 

If I was a Russian I would seriously consider getting rid of the guy. He's no better than a glorified party apparatchik, the sort that used to appear hatchet-faced on balconies to watch the missiles trundle past. A fate such as befell Trotsky wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

Now I shall have to watch out for strange men approaching me with their umbrellas!

[pong]

1.several of those breakaway republics are even worse in old-commy style maintaining law and order (and of course much more protecting the priviliges of the reigning burokratsya-now likely CEO's). Do not forget that well over half of the Russky admire Putin due to his ending of the ''mafia style chaotic period'' under that alcoholic Yeltsin. These young people are simpyl too young to know much about that time-when even hunger was a real danger.

2.some 30 years ago anyone assumed that communism would be forever-how long forever would last. 100 yrs is just some legal formulation without much meaning in Russky. Its more like : not over my dead body in plain US-anglicky.

Your rant is about the same as when a certain mr. Bush reigned that US from a Texan oil-driller viewpoint and Europe was against him (well, most)-then most USAers were surprised that Europeans would be against a democaratic chosen presidient.

[Rogie]

In my tongue-in-cheek rant I was viewing that loathsome toad Putin through the eyes of a person living in a stable western democratic country. On the other hand, if you were to put my hero Bush in charge of Russia. . . well, how long would he last? Perhaps as long as his oil wealth. Oh that's an idea, how about importing a certain regime not noted for its equality or liberalism?

[Moses]

Russia's best-known gay rights campaigner, Nikolay Alexeyev

 

Alexeyev is idiot. He did too many things . But all he did - was not at right time or in wrong place.

 

Before his activity has been started - there were a lot of gay-places in Moscow: clubs, discos, cafe, bars. It wasn't officially gay, but were listed at gay sites. Formerly Moscow mayor Luzhkov "closes his eyes" on it. There were no official gay-activity in Moscow, but unofficial - were a lot of places to relax and be openly gay in friendly atmosphere.

 

After Alexeyev activity started, almost everything was closed by officials. Now there are 3 half-died clubs and 2 saunas in Moscow for 12 000 000 city.

 

Alexeyev does his business on spending money of his foreign sponsors. That is his business. Besides of killing gay scene here and scandals in news, another result of his activity and efforts is the growing homophobia in society.

 

Any one is interesting to invite Alexeyev to live in own country? May be without him russian gays will have normal life without scandals?

[Guest fountainhall]

Moses makes Moscow seem like several Asian cities. Provided everything is done 'on the quiet', a great deal is tolerated. As soon as gay activity becomes a pubic matter, the authorities start denouncing it and police sometimes suddenly appear. Activists deserve a lot of credit for what they have achieved in some countries. But what works publicly in one country does not necessarily work in others, the more so when there are often deep-rooted social and cultural issues to be considered.

[Rogie]

Alexeyev does his business on spending money of his foreign sponsors. That is his business.

 

Who are these foreign sponsors and why should non-Russians wish to be involved? Or do you mean this?

 

On 21 October 2010 Nikolay Alexeyev won the first ever case at the European Court of Human Rights on LGBT human rights violations in Russia. The Strasbourg-based court unanimously ruled that by banning three Moscow Prides in 2006, 2007 and 2008 Russia breached three articles of the European Convention In January 2011 Russian Government asked the Court to refer the case for re-consideration to the Grand Chamber. On 11 April 2011 five judges panel of the European Court dismissed Russia's appeal and the verdict on illegality of Moscow Pride bans came into force the same day.

 

 

He certainly puts himself about, and seems to have made himself plenty of friends, here is one such fulsome praise:

 

In December 2010 Romanian LGBT portal Angelicuss.com named Nikolay Alexeyev as "A Man of the Year 2010". According to the publication, he is "one of the most respected human rights activist in the world and he is a model to us for his determination and self sacrifice. Nikolai is a symbol of dignity maintained against the waves of hatred which drown Russia"

 

A few examples of hate speech that Alexeyev opposed:

 

Nikolay Alexeyev consistently supports criminal prosecution of politicians, officials and public figures for the incitement of hatred towards people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

In 2005 he asked for the opening of a criminal case against the leader of "Prezumptsia" committee from Krasnodar Albert Gayamyan for his homophobic statements during an unsanctioned rally in the center of Krasnodar in October 2005. The request was dismissed by the prosecution department. In 2006 Nikolay Alexeyev, together with activist Nikolay Baev, unsuccessfully tried to achieve criminal prosecution of Russian mufti Talgat Tadjuddin who said in the interview to Interfax that gays, who would show up at the gay parade, should be whipped because Prophet Muhammad called for killings of homosexuals. In 2008 Nikolay Alexeyev and activists Nikolay Baev and Kirill Nepomnyaschiy asked for criminal prosecution of Tambov region governor Oleg Betin who said in an interview that "gays should be torn and their pieces thrown in the wind". All Russian courts, including the Supreme Court, dismissed the complaints and the activists appealed to the European Court of Human Rights.

 

http://en.wikipedia....ikolay_Alexeyev

_____________________________________________________________________

 

FH's analysis is spot on.

[Moses]

Who are these foreign sponsors and why should non-Russians wish to be involved? Or do you mean this?

 

Rogie, I'm living in Moscow over 20 years already.

 

Alexeyev has support from Germany, UK and many other countries - from national GLBT communities. Folk in comunities are thinking what they help to russian GLBT. On early stages at last decade of XX century main activity was about to spread info about AIDS, to distribute free condoms and books. It was fair and good job.

 

Alexeyev joined this movement and late switched activity to politician rails. It was big mistake.

 

Govt. in Russia don't likes any political activity which hasn't approved by Kremlin. And of course GLBT-activity on the political stage wasn't approved. Since that time long "chain" of scandals and performances has been started.

 

Please don't use WIKI to find facts about A. Everyone can write and edit articles in WIKI. All what you see now - long lists of his activity. But question is - how much he wins, and what is in result.

 

Result is - life for GLBT here become even worse than was before: there is mentioned domestic law act about ban of "gay propaganda in Sanct-Petersburg" in BBC article and about Alexeyev's activity in fight against this law.

 

But BBC "forgot" to mention in article fact: this law has been implemented after and as result (!!!) of Alexeyev's activity in Sanct-Peterburg - few stupid public demonstrations.

 

Russia is very special country: extra large territory, old East Orthodox Christianity traditions, low level of education in regions, rich past of communist brains washing. 10 years of jail for been gay removed from law only about 20 years ago. Gays in Russia are living in society which still remember - gays were criminals.

 

So, please don't observe situation with Alexeyev by "european eyes". He isn't russian Harvey Milk. He is much more close to provocateur than to hero.

[Moses]

Moses makes Moscow seem like several Asian cities. Provided everything is done 'on the quiet', a great deal is tolerated. As soon as gay activity becomes a pubic matter, the authorities start denouncing it and police sometimes suddenly appear. Activists deserve a lot of credit for what they have achieved in some countries. But what works publicly in one country does not necessarily work in others, the more so when there are often deep-rooted social and cultural issues to be considered.

 

fountainhall, you are very close to my meaning about local situation in Moscow.