Russian police detains gay rights activists holding demonstration in downtown Moscow

Russian police detained gay rights activists as they tried to hold a demonstration in downtown Moscow while members of a hostile crowd punched the activists and pelted them with eggs.

Photo: Russian police detains gay rights activists holding demonstration in downtown Moscow

The demonstrators, appearing to number less than 100, tried to present a letter signed by some 40 European lawmakers to the office of Moscow's mayor, appealing the city's ban on a march they wanted to conduct.

But police quickly grabbed about a dozen demonstrators and forced them into a bus, including Russian gay rights movement leader Nikolai Alexeyev. Police then hustled away others, including German parliament member Volker Beck, as gay rights opponents threw eggs and shouted: "Moscow is not Sodom."

Marco Cappato, a European Parliament deputy from Italy, was kicked by one as he spoke to journalists; Cappato began shouting: "Where are the police? Why don't you protect us?" and officers hauled him away as he struggled with them.

Cappato's office said he and Ottavio Marzocchi, an official with the Liberal Democrats in the European parliament, had been attacked by what it described as "neo-Nazis" and detained by police; Italian news agencies ANSA and Apcom said Cappato was later released.

A total of 31 people were detained and most of them later released, Moscow police spokesman Yevgeny Gildeyev said. Two Italians were detained for jaywalking, and a German man was taken away from the area by police to prevent him from being beaten, Gildeyev said.

But Beck, who was later released, told The Associated Press that police had beat him and the others and took their passports away as they moved in on the group in what he said authorities called a "security measure."

In a telephone interview, Beck said he would appeal to the German government to pressure Russia for the release of three Russians who he said were to remain in detention until at least Monday. The German Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on Beck's request.

Beck also denied the group had been holding a demonstration, insisting they were only trying to hand over the letter.

"What we were doing was not a demonstration," he said. "They (the three Russians) only accompanied us as we tried to give the petition to the mayor."

The banned march was aimed at marking the 14th anniversary of Russia decriminalizing homosexuality. Despite being taken out of the criminal code, homosexuality is still widely despised.

Many of the demonstration opponents carried icons or other insignia of the Russian Orthodox Church. One man in the garb of an Orthodox priest was among the crowd but declined to comment to journalists. Several black-clad members of the Russian Orthodox group Gonfalieres _ named after a banner carried in ecclesiastical ceremonies _ also were on the scene.

One woman in the headscarf typical of devout Orthodox believers repeatedly threw water from a bottle at Peter Tatchell, a British human rights activist, as he tried to speak. A young man in a camouflage T-shirt then punched Tatchell in the head and Tatchell was led away by police.

Gildeyev said a man was detained after attacking a Briton, presumably referring to Tatchell.

None of the gay rights opponents were seen being taken away by police and demonstrators who weren't detained complained that police ignored the violence.

"I didn't feel protected," said Vladimir Luxuria, a transgender member of the Italian parliament.

"We were peacefully trying to present a letter. That is never a reason to arrest people," said Sophie IntVeld, a Dutch member of the European Parliament.

The only Russian lawmaker to publicly state support for the demonstrators came from an unexpected wing: Alexei Mitrofanov of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party.

"How can one act in such a manner, assuming Russia wants to be a part of Europe," Mitrofanov said at the scene, according to the Interfax news agency.

Yulia Volkova and Lena Katina of the Russian pop group Tatu also briefly appeared the demonstration, but quickly left as their car was pelted with eggs. The duo has attracted worldwide attention in recent years with suggestive performances though the singers have said they are not lesbians.