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(Moscow) Police had to form a human chain to
hold back more than 150 skinheads and Russian Orthodox Church supporters from
rushing a gay event at a Moscow club Sunday night.
The club was to have held a party and rally in
support of LGBT pride celebrations the Interfax news agency reported. The city
council is expected to make a decision on the pride event in two weeks and
Moscow's mayor, the Church, and far right political parties are demanding it be
cancelled.
Protestors Sunday night at Club La
Guardia shouted anti-gay slogans. "Down with pederasts" and "No
perverts here" they yelled.
Skinheads hurled tomatoes and plastic bottles at
the gays while members of the Church held religious icons and prayed. One gay
man was reportedly beaten unconscious.
A cordon of police officers helped about 100
people in the club when the trouble broke out reach safety. Hundreds of
others were caught in the disturbance when they arrived.
A club spokesperson said that about one thousand
people had been expected at the event.
The protesters
threatened to stage more battles if the pride celebration is allowed to go
ahead.
In March Russian Patriarch Alexy II announced his
backing for Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's refusal to give a parade permit to
organizers of the event. (story)
In an open letter Alexy praised the mayor for his
decision to “prevent public propaganda for immorality”.
A month earlier the leader of Russia's Muslims
called for a "violent mass protest" if gay leaders go ahead with Pride
celebrations. (story)
Chief Russian Mufti Talgat Tajuddin said gays
could be killed if they go ahead with their plans.
Organizers
of the pride festival and parade said it will go ahead as planned for May 26-27.
They warn that if the city attempts to prevent the march they will take the
issue to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
©365Gay.com 2006
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