BREAKING NEWS

Gay rights protest in St Petersburg ends in clashes, arrests

By REUTERS

OCTOBER 12, 2013 18:42

ST PETERSBURG, Russia - Police arrested 67 people after a fight broke out between gay rights activists and their opponents at a demonstration in the Russian city of St Peterburg on Saturday.

Gay rights campaigners in Russia have held several small protests since the adoption of a law in June banning homosexual "propaganda" directed at minors. Critics say the law curtails homosexuals' rights to free speech and assembly.

The issue has attracted growing international attention ahead of Russia's hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year. Gay rights activists have called for participants and sponsors to boycott the games in protest at the law.

The disturbance in central St Petersburg began after a group of around 15 gay rights activists tried to hold a demonstration to mark International Coming Out Day.

They were far outnumbered by the anti-gay demonstrators, including several dressed as Cossacks and Orthodox priests, who had occupied the site of the planned demo.

The anti-gay demonstrators included several elderly women who chanted Russian Orthodox prayers.

A police representative told Reuters that 67 people had been detained. They included both gay rights activists and their opponents.

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