A riot police officer detains a man dressed in a bridal gown during an unsanctioned gay rights protest Reuters

Prev

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Next

View gallery

BERMONDSEY human-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been arrested at a gay pride march in Russia.

Police dispersed the Slavic Gay Pride event, which was banned by authorities in Moscow, and about 30 activists were taken away.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that Peter Tatchell has been arrested in Moscow while taking part in a gay pride rally.

"We are in contact with him and are requesting consular access."

The rally came ahead of tonight's final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow.

Campaigners gathered near a university in south-western Moscow to protest against discrimination against gays and lesbians in Russia.

The group, including Australian-born Briton Tatchell, 57, waved flags and chanted slogans including "homophobia is a disgrace of this country" and "we are demanding equal rights".

Riot police quickly charged into the group and began to grab protesters, dragging them to waiting buses.

Tatchell, who was speaking to reporters when police started to take him away, said: "This shows the Russian people are not free."

Russian gay rights movement leader Nikolai Alexeyev was among those detained.

City authorities had barred the rally saying it was morally wrong, with Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov describing homosexuality as "satanic".

At an earlier rally in Moscow, demonstrators from nationalist and Orthodox Christian organisations denounced homosexuality.

Tatchell said he was determined to take part in the march despite warnings from police, with injuries suffered during a run-in with extremists at the 2007 event failing to put him off.

Speaking before the march, he said: "I am joining the parade to show my support for the courageous Russian gay campaigners.

"All year round they risk arrest, imprisonment and queer-bashing attacks.

"These men and women are absolute heroes. I salute them.

"International solidarity is hugely important. My presence is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence.

"Although I am determined to support our Russian and Belarusian comrades, like them I am anxious about what may happen to us. But we have to take some risks; otherwise the homophobes and authoritarians will win.

"I don't have much confidence that the Moscow police will accept our right to protest or that they will protect us against neo-Nazi violence.

"At Moscow Pride in 2007 I was beaten almost unconscious by right-wing extremists, while the police stood by and watched. They then arrested me. I spent several hours in police detention before being released without charge. My attackers have never been arrested, even though they were clearly identified in photos and film footage."