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                       Russia Cracks Down on Gay Activism

   by VOA News

   Russian police arrested at least 30 gay rights activists and their
   opponents in the capital, Moscow, Saturday, enforcing the city's ban on
   gay rights demonstrations.
   The arrests coincided with the first-ever gay rights rally in
   neighboring Ukraine, which was allowed by authorities and protected by
   police.
   The demonstrators in Russia gathered in front of the nation's lower
   house of parliament and near the mayor's office.
   The lower house voted in January to give preliminary approval to a
   measure making homosexual "propaganda" targeting minors punishable by
   fines of up to $16,000.
   ''Meanwhile, in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, about 100 gay rights
   activists held the country's first gay rally, accompanied by a heavy
   security presence.
   As in other former Soviet republics, opposition to homosexuality is
   widespread in mainly Orthodox Ukraine. Saturday's march saw a number of
   religious opponents seek to disrupt the event. At least one anti-gay
   activist managed to break through a police cordon before being
   detained. About a dozen anti-gay activists were detained overall.
   Despite its detractors, organizers hailed Saturday's march in Ukraine
   as historic.
   The rally went ahead despite strong public resistance.
   Last year, gay activists in Ukraine canceled a planned rally in Kyiv
   because of threats of violence. Following the cancellation, one
   activist was brutally beaten.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-cracks-down-on-gay-activism-as
   -ukraine-gays-hold-first-rally/1668391.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-cracks-down-on-gay-activism-as-ukraine-gays-hold-first-rally/1668391.html