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June 15, 2013
Russian court hands down largest fine to date over LGBT rights protest

A Russian woman has been fined 20,000 rubles for participating in an LGBT rights protest – the largest fine handed down to date by a Russian court

A Russian woman has been fined 20,000 rubles for participating in a May 25 Moscow Pride event.

Anna Annenkov and her girlfriend Elena Kostuchenko had held up a rainbow flag at the event with the slogan ‘Love is Stronger.’

Annenkov was found guilty yesterday over her involvement in the event by federal court judge Tatyana Neverona - who will also hear Kostuchenko’s case.

20,000 rubles is the equivalent of around $650 dollars.

June 6, 2013
Nikolai Alekseev, gay Russian activist, attacked by masked skinheads

Three masked men attacked Nikolai Alekseev, who received minor injuries, as he was about to board a train leaving from Kostroma to Moscow, Russia

Nikolai Alekseev, co-founder of Moscow Pride and GayRussia was attacked, as he was about to board a train in Kostroma heading for Moscow, Russia.

Three skinheads dressed in black, wearing white masks that covered their faces, cycled right up to Alekseev, physically and verbally assaulting him, earlier today (5 June).

Alekseev recounted to Gay Star News, while recovering on his train journey: ‘I was about 100 meters from the train station when someone ran into my back with a bicycle.

May 25, 2013
Moscow police arrest gay pride organizer Nikolai Aleskseev

Nikolai Aleskeev was taken into custody at Moscow City Hall where an illegal gay pride march was scheduled

Nikolai Aleskeev, Russian LGBT rights advocate, has been arrested for his part in organizing a gay rights march this morning.

The activist posted a photo to his Facebook page where he and a group of protesters were under police custody in the back of a police van.

Aleskeev spoke with Gay Star News yesterday about the potential harm gay rights activists faced in today’s gay rights march, especially after Moscow city authorities explicitly banned the march from taking place.

May 24, 2013
Russia warns activists against defying ban on Moscow Pride

Nikolai Alekseev, co-founder of Moscow Pride, received a warning from Russian authorities not to go ahead with the event tomorrow, or else face legal consequences

Nikolai Alekseev, co-founder of Moscow Pride and GayRussia, has received a warning from the Russian General Prosecution not to go ahead with a planned Moscow Pride tomorrow.

Earlier today (24 May) security officers twice served a warning to Alekseev at his Moscow home.

Last year, Moscow's highest court ruled to ban gay pride parades in the Russian capital for the next century.

May 23, 2013
Moscow Pride to defy court ban and go on as planned

Despite a Moscow suburban court ban, organizers intend to go ahead with Moscow gay Pride as plannedDespite a Moscow suburban court ban, organizers intend to go ahead with Moscow gay Pride as planned

A Moscow suburb court upheld the decision of the city authorities not to permit a gay pride parade this Saturday (25 May). Despite the ban, activists say Moscow Pride will go ahead as planned.

Nikolai Alekseev, co-founder of Moscow Pride and GayRussia, stated: ‘Khimki City Court upheld the ban on the planned Gay Pride rally and march.’

He added he would appeal on Monday to the Moscow Regional Court.

May 23, 2013
Moscow Pride to defy court ban and go on as planned

Despite a Moscow suburban court ban, organizers intend to go ahead with Moscow gay Pride as plannedDespite a Moscow suburban court ban, organizers intend to go ahead with Moscow gay Pride as planned

A Moscow suburb court upheld the decision of the city authorities not to permit a gay pride parade this Saturday (25 May). Despite the ban, activists say Moscow Pride will go ahead as planned.

Nikolai Alekseev, co-founder of Moscow Pride and GayRussia, stated: ‘Khimki City Court upheld the ban on the planned Gay Pride rally and march.’

He added he would appeal on Monday to the Moscow Regional Court.

May 22, 2013
Council of Europe demands that Russia protect gay rights

The Council of Europe demanded that Russia must act to guarantee the right of LGBT people to freedom of expression and demonstration

The council of Europe demanded that Russia’s LGBT community would be guaranteed the right of expression and demonstrations, as the country continues to clamp down on gay events and rights.

In a press conference held in Moscow today (22 May) Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary-general of the Council of Europe (CoE) delivered a stern message to Russia regarding gay rights.

April 26, 2013
Spain grants speedy asylum to Russian gay rights advocate

Russian gay and political activist Alexey Kiselyov was granted a fast-track political asylum in Spain for being thereanted with imprisonment over Moscow protests

Renowned Russian LGBT rights advocate, Aleksei Kiselyov, has reportedly been granted political asylum in Spain.

Moscow based fellow gay rights advocate, Nikolai Alekseyev, reported today (26 April) that Spain granted Kiselyov asylum and a five-year permanent resident permit.

Kiselyov participated in a protest against the reelection of President Vladimir Putin on Moscow's Bolotnaya Square in May 2012 that was violently dispersed by police.

April 17, 2013
Russians defy thugs to host LGBT film festival in Moscow

Russia’s Side by Side LGBT Film Festival goes ahead despite last year being picketed by thugs and against an increasingly homophobic political climate

Gay Russian film fans are defying thugs and politicians to host the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival in Moscow.

The festival will screen 17 films from tomorrow (18 April) until 21 April.

Last April, when Side by Side made its debut in Moscow 1,200 people attended.

They were picketed by Orthodox Christian activists wearing t-shirts with the slogan ‘Orthodoxy or death’ and shouting ‘Perverts get out of Russia.’

Police protected the festival-goers however – and they are hoping that will continue this year.

March 20, 2013
Historic Russian court ruling: gay pride is legal

Kostroma regional court made a landmark ruling saying that gay pride events were previously illegally banned by the authorities

Press Secretary of the Kostroma Oblast Court Julia Medvedeva announced the court ruled illegal a ban on gay pride marches in the region and on two rallies against the local law prohibiting propaganda of homosexuality among minors.

‘The Civil Chamber of Kostroma Regional Court granted the appeal of Moscow Pride and events founder Nikolai Alekseev against the decision of Sverdlovsk District Court’, said Medvedeva today (20 March).

March 15, 2013
Russia defies Europe as ministers criticize banning of Moscow Pride

Council of Europe says Russia must allow LGBT people to hold prides and axe anti-gay propaganda laws but Moscow security chief says there will be no change

Foreign ministers from around Europe have told Russia to allow gay pride parades and to remove laws banning ‘homosexual propaganda’.

February 8, 2013
Pussy Riot to appeal conviction at European Court of Human Rights

After they performed a pro-gay, anti-Putin protest in a Moscow cathedral, two women were jailed in prison colonies and forced to live in harsh conditions

January 31, 2013
Russian journalist forced to quit over pro-gay comments

Anton Krasovsky, a founding member of Kontr Tv, leaves his post after speaking against the new law banning the 'propaganda of homosexuality'

A Russian journalist working at Kontr Tv has apparently been forced to leave his post after criticizing a proposed national law against gay 'propaganda'.

The proposed legislation has been debated in the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, with most legislators voting in favor of it. It still has to clear other hurdles before it becomes law. It would fine individuals, officials and organizations saying positive things about homosexuality 'to minors'. It's similar to laws already imposed in 10 Russian regions.

January 29, 2013
Russian teacher fired for protesting anti-gay bill

An award-winning biology teacher was fired in the middle of the school year for believing in gay rights

A Russian teacher has said he was fired for protesting against the nationwide anti-gay bill.

Ilya Kolmanovsky, an award-winning biology teacher at a top public school, said he was suddenly dismissed on Monday (28 January).

‘I have been fired from the school where I worked for seven years,’ he wrote on Facebook.

Kolmanovsky said he had participated in the 25 January protest in Moscow against the nationwide bill to ban ‘gay propaganda’.

January 25, 2013
Russia to vote on gay gag as another region makes it law

Another million Russians banned from ‘promoting homosexuality’ as national anti-gay law comes back on agenda at the State Duma

Russia’s State Duma, or parliament, is set to debate and vote on a law against ‘gay propaganda’ at 5pm Moscow time today (25 January).

The debate comes as news breaks that Kaliningrad region, with a population of almost a million, passed a similar law yesterday (24 January).

It’s the 10th Russian region to pass the law which forbids ‘homosexual propaganda’ to minors which it links to pedophilia.

Similar legislation already exists in St Petersburg, Ryazan, Arkangelsk, Kostroma, Magadansk, Samar, Bashkortostan, Krasnodar and Novosibirsk.

January 25, 2013
Scuffles as Russian Duma votes for national gay gag law

State Duma backs fines for ‘promoting homosexuality’. But committee to review the bill has potential to remove anti-gay sting

Police have arrested at least 20 campaigners as Russia’s State Duma voted for a new law banning ‘homosexual propaganda’.

The proposed national law is similar to legislation already existing in nine Russian regions. Just yesterday Kaliningrad became the 10th region to introduce the ban, their bill just needs to be signed by the governor to become law.

January 23, 2013
Pussy Riot member gets death threats in Russian jail

One of two jailed members of the Russian feminist punk group has discussed the harsh conditions of where she is serving her prison sentence

One of the two jailed members of Russian political opposition group Pussy Riot has said she is in solitary confinement after receiving death threats from other prisoners.

Maria Alyokhina, who with Nadezhda Tolokonnikova was imprisoned for performing a pro-gay, anti-Vladimir Putin song in a Moscow cathedral for two years, has revealed the harsh conditions where she is serving her sentence.

A third member of the group was also sentenced but released on appeal.

December 26, 2012
Moscow City Court refuses to review Pride ban defying Council of Europe

Moscow's highest court refused to review a ban on Pride, defying rulings by the Council of Europe and European Court of Human Rights to lift it

The Presidium of Moscow City Court, the highest court in the city, rejected the appeal of organizers of Gay Pride in Moscow to reconsider the ban against the event by city’s authorities.

Moscow City Court previously dismissed the appeal against a ruling by Tverskoy District Court of Moscow, on 9 July, to uphold the ban on Moscow Pride.

December 13, 2012
Lady Gaga 'promotes' gay rights in Moscow

Born This Way singer continues to speak out for LGBT rights in Russia despite facing legal action from St Petersburg lawmaker

Pop superstar Lady Gaga is continuing to speak out for gay rights in Russia, despite threats of legal action.

The singer told the audience during her concert in the capital Moscow last night (12 December) that she had been warned about the country's gay 'propaganda' laws.

'Thank you, Moscow, for spreading the message of equality around the world. Thank you for spreading the message of Born This Way,' she said.

November 25, 2012
UN rules Russian 'gay gag' law violates human rights

UN Human Rights Committee passed a landmark ruling saying a Russian law against ‘homosexual propaganda’ is discriminatory, violates the basic right for freedom of expression and unconstitutional

The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) found Russia’s application of Ryazan region anti ‘homosexual propaganda’ law against LGBT rights activist Irina Fedotov to be in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the grounds of freedom of expression and discrimination.

LGBT activists say that this historic landmark ruling will have far reaching effect not only in Russia but worldwide on other countries that legislated, or plan to, laws against ‘homosexual propaganda’ such as Lithuania and the Ukraine.

November 22, 2012
Moscow lawmakers reject 'gay gag' bill

Regional parliament in Russia rules anti-gay 'propaganda' bill conflicts with federal law

Moscow's regional parliament has rejected an anti-gay 'propaganda' bill similar to homophobic laws passed elsewhere in Russia.

The proposed law, which would ban 'non-traditional sexual orientation propaganda to minors', was filed with the Duma on 16 November by the local Council of Municipal Entities.

A Duma spokesman told the RIA Novosti news agency today (22 November) that the legislation 'will not be accepted' because it is in conflict with the country's federal law.

October 30, 2012
Despite breaking European law, Moscow court upholds gay pride ban

Moscow City Court has upheld a refusal to hold gay prides in the Russian capital city

Moscow City Court has upheld the ruling against holding a gay parade in the Russian city despite it breaking European law.

The Tverskoy District Court dismissed an appeal on 9 July submitted by the parade’s organizer Nikolai Alekseev, and said they will continue to ban gay pride from March 2012 to May 2112.

In defiance, Alekseev claimed to have found a loophole in Russian legislation and submitted requests for gay pride parades for the next 100 years to the Moscow Mayor’s office.

October 12, 2012
Moscow gay club attacked by masked thugs

Attack on Coming Out Day party in Russian capital comes after nationalist Christian group called for ban on Moscow gay clubs

A gay club in Moscow was attacked by 20 masked thugs, just days after Orthodox Christian activists called for a ban on LGBT nightspots.

Around 15 to 20 masked assailants stormed the Coming Day party at the Russian capital's 7freedays club last night (11 October), vandalizing and beating revellers.

'For us it was just a party, it was full,' an eyewitness told Xenia.

October 11, 2012
We're banning gays from our future, says Russian firm

Russian gay activist Nikolai Alexeyev offers help to people who want to sue outdoor retailer Expedition over anti-gay recruitment policy

A company in Russia has sparked outrage after banning gay applicants to its business course.

Outdoor goods retailer Expedition drew angry criticism after it stated on its Russian website that gay people are not allowed to apply for a place on its Academy for Entrepreneurship'.

Activist Nikolai Alexeyev says it's not the first time they have tried to block LGBT people from working or studying there and called for tougher anti-discrimination laws.

October 10, 2012
Pussy Riot member freed from jail

After a pro-gay, anti-Putin protest in a Moscow cathedral, a member is freed while two others remain behind bars

A member of Russian punk band Pussy Riot is being set free on appeal today (10 October).

However, Moscow City Court confirmed the two year prison sentences for the two other women in the band after their pro-gay, anti-Putin cathedral protest in February.

Katerina Samutsevich’s lawyer said she had not participated in the masked protest because she had been stopped and led away before it took place.