Nikolai Alekseev, considered the face
of the gay rights movement in Russia, has suddenly stepped down as
chief organizer of Moscow Pride, UK gay site UKGayNews.org.uk
reported.
In a Facebook post, Alekseev (sometimes
spelled Alexeyev) wrote: “Dear friends … today on 21 October
2011, one year anniversary of the European Court of Human Rights
verdict in the case of illegality of Moscow Pride bans, I decided to
resign from the positions of the head of Russian LGBT Human Rights
Project GayRussia.ru and head of Moscow Pride Organizing Committee.
From midnight 21 October 2011 in Moscow and up to the decision on the
new leadership, Project GayRussia.ru will be headed by Nikolay Baev
and Moscow Pride Organizing Committee by Alexander Naumchik.”
Alekseev confirmed his decision to the
site. “It is true that I am fed up, and that is why I decided to
step down,” he wrote in an email. “I also decided not to give
any further comments on my decision.”
Nikolai Baev said the decision was
“totally personal.”
“He just decided to change his
activity in life style, and he has a full right to this,” he said.
Alekseev's bold style and
confrontational personality had won him admirers and critics.