Owner of gay club demands action from Putin following homophobic attack on premises

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Moscow’s largest gay club owner has written to President Putin to demand a full investigation into the homophobic attack on his club.

Andrei Lishchinsky said that a homophobic mob of 100 people who attacked Central Station by stealing equipment and ‘dismantling’ the roof was one of the 20 recent incidents.

He has submitted more than 30 complaints to the Moscow Police and received no response.

Mr Lishchinsky claims that the thugs took control of the attic in the club with the police’s consent.

Previously, an attack comprised of two men starting a fire at the club which damaged the door but did not injure anyone.

In November, employees of the club were forced to use a smoke removal machine to remove “harmful gas” which was released in a room of 500 people.

Writing to President Putin, Mr Lishchinsky said: “The building was seized by a professional raiding company that served the interests of unknown foreign legal entities that ordered multiple illegal actions against LGBT visitors of the club.

“These actions were obviously motivated by hatred toward representatives of the LGBT community and had a clear extremist tone.”

He continued to say: “Despite clear signs of crimes and evidence from witnesses, those responsible for organisation and execution of crimes were not identified, and by results of the formal checks a decision was made against initiation of criminal proceedings.”

In October, the speaker of Russia’s Parliament invited the country’s MP’s to visit gay bars to try to show support for the LGBT community.

However, one month earlier, police arrested LGBT activists who protested in Moscow, ahead of the 2014 Sochi Games. 

 

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