Russian Activist Nikolai Alekseev Detained By Police Over Gay Pride Complaints

Noted Russian LGBT activist Nikolai Alekseev was taken away by authorities yesterday he attempted to board a flight to Geneva. According to Alekseev, Russia's government is angry over a complaint he filed with the European Court Of Human Rights over Moscow's five year old ban on gay pride events. Officials are also demanding that he call off a picket of Moscow's anti-gay mayor.

“They demanded of me to give up on the picket Luzhkov and withdraw a complaint by the gay pride of European court” Mr. Alekseev said today at 6:00 am. Later, at 8 am, he clarified that he is no longer held in Domodedovo Airport, where he was detained at the airport yesterday evening. “I cannot say where [I am], but not in Moscow,” he said when asked about his whereabouts. Mr Alekseev told about the pressures exerted on him. The authorities have threaten to block his exit from Russia. “They also threatened me that a lot of bad things about me will be given to the Swiss authorities should I leave,” he said. The head of the Moscow Gay Pride was arrested yesterday by police at Domodedovo Airport as he was about to board the evening flight to Geneva. No explanation was given for the reason of his detention.

The European Parliament's Intergroup On LGBT Rights has written an urgent message to Russia government protesting Alekseev's arrest. Unconfirmed reports say that Alekseev was released in Minsk hours ago.