Russian Riot Police Break Up Slavic Pride

[ccharles000]

-Nikolai Alekseev being arrested by OMON riot police.

Police in riot gear swept in and forcibly broke up an attempted Slavic Pride march near Moscow State University shortly after noon today just as the march was getting underway. Between twenty and forty people were arrested in all.

The march had only been underway for about a minute when OMON rushed in and began hauling off marchers to waiting buses. Riot police then began detaining other gay activists who appeared shortly after and were speaking with media. They were arrested even though they hadn’t participated in the march itself. There are reports that as police hauled away Ksenia Prilebskaya, they ripped off her shirt and bra and roughly pushed her into a police bus.

Moscow authorities had earlier denied permission to hold the march, and they vowed to break up any attempt by activists to march without permission. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov has described Pride marches as “satanic,” and his spokesman yesterday said the march sought to “destroy the moral foundations of our society.”

Among those in custody are Slavic Pride organizer Nikolai Alekseev and Chicago LGBT activist Andy Theyer. Alekseev and another activist were were at an adjacent park popular with newlyweds dressed as a groom and bride while giving interviews with media when police spotted and arrested them. Alekseev was held down by five riot police as he was arrested. British activist Peter Tatchell was arrested but has since been released. One activist has already been taken before a judge who pronounced him innocent, but he still remains in police custody.

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/05/16/11453#comments

[ThomCat]

1. The ripped off a woman's shirt and bra before arresting her?

:wtf:

I'll bet they charge her with indecent exposure too. x(

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Kick and Rec just in time for for International Day Against Homophobia!

http://www.homophobiaday.org/

[armyowalgreens]

3. It's good to be back in the USSR

Indeed.

[ccharles000]

4. kick

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Sunday afternoon kick. n/t