First, parliament suspended indefinitely on May 16 a vote on a bill that would prevent employers from discriminating against individuals based on their sexual orientation. It could have been a big win for them as well as another step toward addressing the EU’s outlined reforms on Ukraine’s long path toward European integration.
Then Kyiv’s city administration on May 22, in an all-too-familiar move, banned a Kyiv Pride event set for May 25 that had been planned by LGBT rights groups for months in advance, citing rising opposition to the March of Equality by religious and right-wing groups, including the Svoboda party, which threatened violence if the event was allowed to go on as planned.
To add insult to injury, those groups rallied in front of parliament and Kyiv city hall chanting hate slogans, cheering on a priest that likened homosexuals to rabid dogs.
The same happened last year when a planned Kyiv Pride march had to be cancelled in the face of violent threat posed by groups of the extreme-right youth.
“This shameful decision does a disservice to the city of Kyiv,” said Max Tucker, Ukraine campaigner at Amnesty International. “Instead of allowing all of its residents to join in the celebration of culture, the city authorities are picking and choosing who is allowed to take part. This discrimination must not be tolerated.”
According to Amnesty International, the march’s organizers were notified about the court hearing that eventually ruled in the administration’s favor at 9 a.m. on May 23, only two hours before it was due to begin. They also were denied legal representation.
So not only were organizers deprived of their right to freedom of assembly, there were also denied the opportunity to a fair hearing in court.
One bright spot came when the British Embassy flew a Pride flag on May 17 to support the Ukrainian LGBT community and commemorate International Day against Homophobia. It’s a shame more Western embassies didn’t join.
The Kyiv city administration should not only allow Kyiv Pride to take place on May 25 as planned, it should show that it’s taking steps toward European principles, and ensure to the best of its ability the safety of participants and do away with the convenient excuse that it can’t – especially after Ihor Mikhalko, head of Kyiv’s police press service, told Kyiv Pride organizers the police are ready to protect the March of Equality participants and have the manpower and skills to do so.
