Two people have been hospitalized after
two masked men with guns and baseball bats attacked an HIV
organization for gay men in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Gay glossy The
Advocate quotes Anastasia Smirnova, the general project
manager of the Interregional Social Movement Russian LGBT Network, as
saying that the attack occurred at the offices of LaSky
early Sunday morning.
“Pogroms are becoming a reality,”
Smirnova told the magazine. “Now it is not migrants, but the St.
Petersburg office of LaSky.”
Two guests were reported as in need of
medical care, but injuries sustained were not released.
According to the report, police
responding to the scene left immediately, saying that they saw no
evidence of a crime.
Russia has faced worldwide criticism
following the approval of several anti-gay laws, including one that
prohibits the promotion of “gay propaganda” to minors,
effectively outlawing Gay Pride marches and similar public displays
of support. Opponents claim the laws fuel anti-gay sentiment and
homophobic attacks.