Missing Russian gay activist is in Belarus, preparing asylum bid

Dan82 · Sep 18, 2010

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g7UeovSMAl_4tA8WzP-ooRuaf0mw

A prominent Russian gay rights activist who disappeared at a Moscow airport this week claims to be in Belarus and aims to seek political asylum, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.

According to the agency, Nikolai Alexeyev says he was "squeezed out" of Russia under pressure. Interfax says he told the agency by text message that he is in the Belarusian capital Minsk and preparing to seek asylum.

Calls to Alexeyev's mobile phone by The Associated Press did not go through on Friday.

Alexeyev has been one of the most vocal and visible gay figures in Russia, leading repeated attempts to hold gay rights parades. Most parades were broken up swiftly and harshly by police. But Alexeyev and other activists succeeded in a short rally in May by evading police.

Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but opposition to gay rights remains widespread. Moscow's mayor Yuri Luzhkov has called gays "satanic" and the city routinely denies gay activists permission to rally, saying the gatherings would be dangers to public safety because they would attract violent opposition...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g7UeovSMAl_4tA8WzP-ooRuaf0mw
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sokk · Sep 20, 2010

But is Belarus a better country to live openly gay? I kinda doubt it..

Missing Russian gay activist is in Belarus, preparing asylum bid

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Missing Russian gay activist is in Belarus, preparing asylum bid

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