Russia: Gay activists lodge complaint with ECHR against rejected rally application
Gay rights rights activists in Russia have lodged a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights after they were prohibited from holding an equal marriage rally in central Moscow.
The activists, supported by Nikolai Alekseyev, told RIA Novosti their application made in October 2013 was banned due to the country’s legislation against gay “propaganda.”
Although they had initially turned to Moscow’s Tverskoy District court, it declared the decision lawful and upheld the ruling.
Alekseyev said that for the last year 90 applications have been turned down by Moscow authorities, all of which were challenged in the Russian court and then in the ECHR.
The activists have turned to the ECHR, raising their claim under Article 11 which protects the right to freedom of assembly and association, as well as Article 13 which provides right to an effective remedy, and Article 14 which contains a prohibition of discrimination.
Police routinely deny permission for gay pride events and marches, claiming they will lead to violence, in addition to violating the state’s ‘gay propaganda’ law.