MOSCOW(AP) — Two Gay Pride parades were held without arrests inMoscowon Saturday, the first time the notoriously intolerantRussianauthorities have not intervened since the inaugural attempt to hold the event in the capital in 2006.
The activists’ spokesman claimed that the absence of harrasment, beatings and detentions was due to "military planning" rather than any kind of warming toward non-traditional orientation among officials.
About 25 activists held a short demonstration on The Arbat, a pedestrian street lined with shops and cafes that is one ofMoscow’smain tourist draws.
They marched for about 10 minutes, holding banners and shouting slogans such as "No discrimination on the grounds of orientation." Some observers waved and laughed, and there were no signs of hostility.
Police did not try to disperse the march, but when the demonstrators saw a line of uniformed officers blocking the street ahead of them, they scattered.
A few hours later in northwesternMoscowa smaller, international group including British activist Peter Tatchell unveiled a long rainbow flag and chanted "Russiawithout homophobes!" and "Equal rights, no compromise!"
"We are here to support the braveRussiangay activists. All they want to do is exercise their lawful right to peaceful protest. We are here to show the support for their struggle for queer freedom," Tatchell, a member of the U.K. rights group OutRage, told Associated Press Television News.
