Norway: Rainbow crossing pops up outside Russian embassy in Oslo

A pedestrian crossing outside the Russian embassy in Oslo has been coloured in with rainbow colours, the latest in a string of installations to protest Russia’s anti-gay laws introduced in June.

Twitter users posted pictures of the crossing in the Norwegian capital’s Russian embassy, not

One user, Anders Giæver, tweeted in Norwegian to say: “Stockholm effect: Gay colours have spread to the Russian Embassy in Oslo during the night”.

A pedestrian crossing outside the Russian embassy in Stockholm was also two weeks ago painted to rainbow colours.

President Vladimir Putin signed the law in June banning the promotion of “non-traditional relationships” toward minors, a move that has been criticised as part of a broader crackdown on Russia’s gay community. Other laws banning the adoption of Russian children by foreign same-sex couples, and one which enables organisations receiving funding from abroad to be fined as “foreign agents”, were also passed.

The laws have so far sparked controversy among LGBT activists, with some calling for a boycott of the 2014 Games. Others have also called to boycott Russian vodka as a form of protest.

The Russian Interior Ministry confirmed last week that the anti-gay legislation will remain in force during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

A petition which has gathered over 150,000 signatures, calls for the 2014 games to be relocated to Vancouver, following the passage of anti-gay laws in Russia.

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