Russian gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev has issued a call for international protests against anti-gay Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov.
Alexeyev reportedly posted this message on his Facebook profile (text via Towleroad):
“Tomorrow me and other activists are going for unsanctioned
demonstration in front of Moscow City Hall to ask for criminal
prosecution of Mayor Luzhkov who is now in Austria with his billioneer
wife. The action is at 6 pm on Tuesday in front of City Hall. Protest
Luzhkov everywhere you can abroad! It can especially be effective in
Austria!!!”
Luzhkov has repeatedly denied requests to hold Pride parades in Moscow, and he has called them “satanic.”
Last week, Alexeyev was reportedly kidnapped, interrogated and made to sign a paper saying he would retract a case
currently before the European Court of Human Rights on Muscovites’
right to hold Pride parades.
Vancouver queers were quick to pick up on the call to action: a rally is planned for Tuesday, Sept 21 (tomorrow) at 6pm, at Burrard and Davie streets. See Facebook for details of the Vancouver event.
If you are organizing or hear of a protest in your area, add the details to the comments below or email webeditor@xtra.ca.
Read more:
- Nikolai Alexeyev “kidnapped,” did not escape to Belarus: activists
- Q&A with Alexeyev: Fighting for gay rights in Russia
- The new Russian queer activism
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