Russian LGBT activists and allies in 16 cities took action for the IDAHOT 2014 despite considerable social and legal pressure, attacks and threats from opponents. 15 people were detained on May 17, all of whom are now released (June 4, 2014). Two actions were targeted by neo-nazi groups. No serious injuries occurred this year and local groups underscored the bravery and resistant spirit of LGBT communities in the country.

In most Russian cities rainbow flashmob events (coloured balloon releases) went quite well, with a considerable 150 people showing up in St. Petersburg. However, during or because of the flashmobs the police detained activists from Moscow, Murmansk, Perm and Vladimir. Two people in Moscow, 1 person in Murmansk, 11 people in Perm and 1 person in Vladimir were detained on May 17. They are now all released.

While most events in the 16 cities went without any incidents, 4 of these cities witnessed arrests. The organizer of a Rainbow flashmob event in Murmansk, Violetta Grudina, was detained before the event actually started. She was accused of “propaganda of homosexuality”. The police stated that by publishing information about LGBT events in the social network (Vkontakte), she “committed propaganda of homosexuality among minors”.

Russia, image by St Petersburg Times

On May 17 in Perm, several members of the group LGBT-Perm were also detained. An activist of another LGBT group (Raduzhniy dom), Julia Babintseva, who wasn’t detained on May 17th, was not charged with anything yet, however, she got a call from the police. Moreover, representatives of the police visited her parents. All this situation strangely resembles the situation in Samara, where after the Day of Silence LGBT activists started to get calls and then charges, all happening as a form of systematic intimidation.

The National articulation group, Russian LGBT-Network, provided legal support to Violetta Grudina and Julia Babintseva. The Chairman of the Network, Igor Kochetkov, states that “Solidarity was one of the main messages of the May 17th this year and we are ready to support everyone who suffers because of the unlawful actions of the police”.

Further Information

• Russian LGBT Network:Police getting more and more interested in the activity of LGBT activists.
• To see photos from the rainbow flashmob event in St. Petersburg, organized by “Coming Out” Organization: click here.

Though, as in many cities and states (and now federally), a bill banning the promotion of ‘homosexual propaganda’ was already in force in Saint Petersburg (in February 2012), activists were given permission to publicly mark IDAHO 2013. Opposition groups broke through police lines, however, to attack the peaceful demonstration with smoke pellets and stones. They also shouted slurs and held up pictures of pedophiles.

Local activists, however, also stressed uccess, highlighting an attendance of more than 150 and adequate attempts at policing. In Moscow, which one week later (May 25, 2013) would ban a scheduled city Pride March, a coloured balloon release in the city centre proceeded peacefully.

Photos from Moscow Rainbow Flashmob

IDAHOT Flashmob in Murmansk commemorates victims of homophobia and transphobia

LGBT activists and their supporters organized a Rainbow Flashmob in Murmansk, Russia, to mark IDAHOT on May 17th. “The weather was nice, the mood of the participants was cheerful,” said Sergey Alekseenko, chair of the LGBT organization Maximum.

The event started with a minute of silence to commemorate the victims of homophobia and transphobia. Candles and balloons with black ribbons symbolized the mourning of the families and friends of the victims.

The balloons then filled the blue sky with Rainbow colors. The event was sanctioned by the local municipality and involved 50 participants. No homophobic or transphobic attacks took place throughout the event.

Rainbow Flashmob in Vladivistok

Russian LGBT activists organized a Rainbow Flashmob  in the city of Vladivostok on the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).

The organizers have kindly shared some photos with the IDAHO Committee.

LGBT activists in Saint Petersburg have IDAHO 2013 celebration amid anti-gay opposition

LGBT activists from Saint Petersburg had a successful IDAHO celebration in the Field of Mars (Marsovo Pole) today, May 17^th.

Despite strong opposition from anti-gay groups and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, the IDAHO demonstration and Rainbow Flashmob have passed without any serious incidents and violence.

The event was supposed to start at 2:00pm, but representatives of anti-LGBT organizations were in the venue long before the LGBT activists arrived, holding homophobic and transphobic posters. Around 100 police officers were patrolling the park where the IDAHO event was to happen.

The police blocked the anti-gay protesters’ attempts use tear-gas and hurl stones on the participants of the IDAHO event.

At the closing of the event, hundreds of rainbow-colored balloons flew into air, including black balloons commemorating the young gay activists who was murdered in Volgograd on May 9^th.

For the video footage in Russian, please, follow this link:

http://www.tv100.ru/news/na-marsovom-pole-proshla-soglasovannaya-akciya-lgbt-aktivistov-73198/

A line of police acted as a buffer and were able to hold them at bay. More than 500 rainbow balloons were launched into the skies to symbolize activists’ dream of a world free from homophobia and hate.

Representatives from democratic political parties and human rights organizations spoke of the importance of joining forces against the growing tide of intolerance in society.

Despite both the rally organizers and police provided buses to take the participants to safety, violence could not be avoided and two activists were attacked.

In addition to the rally, about 100 people gathered in Khabarovsk to release balloons as part of the global RainbowFlash mobilization against homophobia. RainbowFlash was also held in Tyumen, Tomsk, Omsk, Perm, Novosibirsk, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Vladivostok, Samara, Syktyvkar, Ufa, Pskov and Voronezh.

The US Embassy in Russia marked the Day with a Roundtable in Defense of LGBT Rights, which hosted a dialog between the Embassy and Civil Rights activists.