Moscow police on Saturday detained two
women attempting to hold an unsanctioned Gay Pride demonstration.
According to the
AP, the demonstration took place across from the Moscow mayor's
office.
Reuters reported that other activists
drove by the mayor's office waving rainbow flags. Some of the
protesters were dressed as Eurovision Song Contest winner and
Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst.
Moscow authorities have denied gay
groups' applications for permission to hold rallies for nine
consecutive years.
Former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov
aggressively shut down any unauthorized pro-gay demonstrations, which
he called “Satanic acts” and “one of the factors in the spread
of HIV infection.”
Last year, Russian lawmakers approved a
law banning the promotion of “gay propaganda” to minors, which
targets any public demonstration of support for LGBT rights. Russian
President Vladimir Putin has defended the law as necessary to protect
children.