European Forum

ECHR rebukes Russia for Gay Pride ban

On October 21st the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Russia violated human rights by repeatedly banning Gay Pride parades. The Court ruled that the ban violates freedom of assembly. It also ruled that the Moscow authorities had unlawfully discriminated against activist Nikolay Aleksandrovich Alekseyev and other organizers of gay pride events on the basis of sexual orientation, and had denied them a remedy having violated their rights.

Public protests

According to Boris Dittrich, acting director of the Human Rights Watch lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender program: "The European court saw Moscow's decision to ban gay pride events as homophobia dressed up in dubious claims about public order … The court has told the Russian authorities they can no longer ban peaceful gatherings based on the participants' sexual orientation. So now it's time for the Moscow authorities to allow gay pride marches - and to protect participants from violence."

The Court firmly rejected the Russian government's argument that there is no general consensus on issues relating to the treatment of sexual minorities, and reiterated that there is "no ambiguity" about "the right of individuals to openly identify themselves as gay, lesbian or any other sexual minority, and to promote their rights and freedoms, in particular by exercising their freedom of peaceful assembly."

Mayor

The Court found that the Moscow Gay Pride parade was banned because of a personal rejection by then-Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, and not out of consideration for public order. Luzhkov, who has repeatedly spoken derogatorily of homosexuality in the past, has many times ordered to disperse gay pride demonstrations, which usually happened in a violent way.

Alekseev called the ruling a big success, not only for the Russian gay rights movement but for all Russian citizens.

Sources: NRC Handelsblad, Human Rights Watch

Source photo: France24