Statement of the Russian LGBT-Network regarding the events in Moscow on May 28, 2011
31/05/2011
Submitted by
Russian LGBT-Network
May 28, 2011 a group of Russian and foreign activists tried to hold a peaceful demonstration in defense of human rights and against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Some of the participants in the demonstration have been attacked, illegally detained and treated brutally by policemen, some are injured. One of them is in hospital. What happened was due to comprehensive violations of human rights and the failure of the authorities in Moscow and the police in their duty to protect participants of peaceful assembly.
Moscow Mayor's Office refused to allow the demonstration of gay activists, with alleged reasons being factitious and illegal. The officials who are responsible for this decision were not guided by the law, but by personal prejudice. At the same time Moscow authorities have sanctioned public protests opposing the "gay pride". Thus direct discrimination was made on grounds of prejudice against sexual orientation and gender identity.
On the eve of the planned demonstration of LGBT activists Moscow police officially warned the organizers of Gay Pride that any attempt to hold an unsanctioned demonstration on May 28 would be suppressed, and its participants would be detained. This statement can be considered only as a deliberate intimidation of organizers and potential participants of a peaceful meeting in order to sabotage it. The mere participation in a demonstration which is not sanctioned by government is not a legal reason for restricting freedom of citizens, if they do not disturb public order and if the event is held in the forms that are not prohibited by law.
Long before May 28, officials from the Russian Orthodox Church and other religious and social organizations and certain individuals publicly encouraged other people to use physical force against participants of the planned Gay Pride. Through Internet websites and social networks an open preparation of violent acts was conducted. Moscow authorities could not have been unaware of it. However, no preventive measures have been taken to prevent the crime. This position of the Moscow authorities can be characterized only as a crime of omission.
On the day of Gay Pride police didn’t prevent accumulation of groups of young people who had an intention to attack the members of the demonstration. The police intervened only after the attack had begun. The participants and witnesses of the events had an impression of collusion between police and opponents. Thus, instead of protecting public order and citizens from violence, the police tried to stop the peaceful demonstration, which, in fact, could be described as a series of individual pickets.
Activists taking part in those pickets did not interfere with traffic nor violated public order at all. Nevertheless, police detained them with brute force, including those who offered no resistance during the arrest.
The incident requires a thorough impartial investigation. Authorities and society must pay attention not only to violation of rights of the organizers and participants of the peaceful demonstration, but also to a clear trend to encourage violence and humiliation of human dignity by the public bodies and officials, religious and community leaders.
Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Russia are regularly subjected to violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. According to the research conducted by the Russian LGBT Network, at least one third of gays and lesbians have been victims of physical violence on the ground of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 26% of LGBT representatives committed suicide because of the others’ attitudes towards them. Due to lack of legally stated procedures for changing sex, transsexuals are deprived of basic social guarantees and ability to obtain quality health care.
These and many other problems of the LGBT community today are completely ignored by the Russian government on legislative and political levels. Condescending attitude of society to manifestations of homophobia and transphobia leads to increased crime, terrorism and other threats to public safety. In such circumstances, LGBT activists have not only the right, but furthermore the obligation to declare loudly the need to respect the rights and dignity of every person, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In order to do so we use a variety of legal methods, including street demonstrations.
Open discussion of the issues of LGBT community will inevitably lead to a collision of opposite and often hostile views. The government must not stand on the side of those who seek to destroy the opponents or huff them into silence. Responsible government should be a mediator in the public debate, providing equal rights for everyone in expression of their opinions and contributing to the transformation of a conflict into a civilized dialogue.
Moscow Mayor's Office refused to allow the demonstration of gay activists, with alleged reasons being factitious and illegal. The officials who are responsible for this decision were not guided by the law, but by personal prejudice. At the same time Moscow authorities have sanctioned public protests opposing the "gay pride". Thus direct discrimination was made on grounds of prejudice against sexual orientation and gender identity.
On the eve of the planned demonstration of LGBT activists Moscow police officially warned the organizers of Gay Pride that any attempt to hold an unsanctioned demonstration on May 28 would be suppressed, and its participants would be detained. This statement can be considered only as a deliberate intimidation of organizers and potential participants of a peaceful meeting in order to sabotage it. The mere participation in a demonstration which is not sanctioned by government is not a legal reason for restricting freedom of citizens, if they do not disturb public order and if the event is held in the forms that are not prohibited by law.
Long before May 28, officials from the Russian Orthodox Church and other religious and social organizations and certain individuals publicly encouraged other people to use physical force against participants of the planned Gay Pride. Through Internet websites and social networks an open preparation of violent acts was conducted. Moscow authorities could not have been unaware of it. However, no preventive measures have been taken to prevent the crime. This position of the Moscow authorities can be characterized only as a crime of omission.
On the day of Gay Pride police didn’t prevent accumulation of groups of young people who had an intention to attack the members of the demonstration. The police intervened only after the attack had begun. The participants and witnesses of the events had an impression of collusion between police and opponents. Thus, instead of protecting public order and citizens from violence, the police tried to stop the peaceful demonstration, which, in fact, could be described as a series of individual pickets.
Activists taking part in those pickets did not interfere with traffic nor violated public order at all. Nevertheless, police detained them with brute force, including those who offered no resistance during the arrest.
The incident requires a thorough impartial investigation. Authorities and society must pay attention not only to violation of rights of the organizers and participants of the peaceful demonstration, but also to a clear trend to encourage violence and humiliation of human dignity by the public bodies and officials, religious and community leaders.
Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Russia are regularly subjected to violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. According to the research conducted by the Russian LGBT Network, at least one third of gays and lesbians have been victims of physical violence on the ground of their sexual orientation or gender identity. 26% of LGBT representatives committed suicide because of the others’ attitudes towards them. Due to lack of legally stated procedures for changing sex, transsexuals are deprived of basic social guarantees and ability to obtain quality health care.
These and many other problems of the LGBT community today are completely ignored by the Russian government on legislative and political levels. Condescending attitude of society to manifestations of homophobia and transphobia leads to increased crime, terrorism and other threats to public safety. In such circumstances, LGBT activists have not only the right, but furthermore the obligation to declare loudly the need to respect the rights and dignity of every person, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In order to do so we use a variety of legal methods, including street demonstrations.
Open discussion of the issues of LGBT community will inevitably lead to a collision of opposite and often hostile views. The government must not stand on the side of those who seek to destroy the opponents or huff them into silence. Responsible government should be a mediator in the public debate, providing equal rights for everyone in expression of their opinions and contributing to the transformation of a conflict into a civilized dialogue.
