Activists have vowed to hold a gay pride parade in St Petersburg despite the Russian city's law banning 'homosexual propaganda'.

Yesterday (26 June), LGBT group Ravnopravie (Equality) applied to city authorities to hold the third annual pride event in St Petersburg on 7 July.

Organizers expect 1,000 people to march for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, with possible routes including passing well known landmarks such as the monument to Peter the Great and the Palace Square near the Winter Palace.