Moscow Pride organisers unveil plans
Moscow Gay Pride organisers handed in the official documents this morning relating to the march scheduled for May 27th.
Last week State Duma Deputy Alexey Mitrofanov said the event should be allowed to go ahead.
To show his support Mitrofanov will be attending a press conference tomorrow, where Pride organisers will give details of the event.
Official notification of the proposed march in the city centre was delivered this morning to the office of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.
Mayor Luzhkov banned the Moscow Pride event planned for May last year. Gay rights activist defied the ban, despite large numbers of vigilantes, tear gas and riot police.
The Mayor has already indicated that he will not permit this month’s march.
The march on 27th May, the day of the 14th anniversary since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Russia , is planned to start close to Moscow’s main Post Office at 3pm.
President Putin is being asked to permit a small-scale event between 1 and 2pm in Alexandrovsky Garden next to Kremlin Walls.
“This year it will be attended not only by foreign but also Russian politicians and famous mainstream human rights activists.” said Nicolas Alexeyev, Moscow Pride organiser.
“We welcome the participation not only of homosexual people but also of heterosexuals who share the principles of respect for the rights and liberties of all people irrespective of their personal characteristics.”
Mr Alexeyev was arrested last year by police when he and other campaigners including Peter Tatchell defied the ban on the Pride march by gathering by the Kremlin in Manezhnaya Square.
