Gay parade banned in capital of Belarus
October 18th, 2011 - 12:09 pm ICT by IANSMinsk, Oct 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The administration of the Belarusian capital has prohibited holding a gay parade in Minsk, scheduled for October 22.
“The municipal executive committee of Minsk banned a parade along the Krasin Street in the district of Sosny, although President Alexander Lukashenko earlier stated that he was not against a gay parade on the outskirts of the city,” a statement on the website of the parade’s organizers said.
Earlier in the month Lukashenko said in an interview with Russian news agencies that he would not ban gay parades in his country.
“I would not ban them. Somewhere on the outskirts of the city to marvel people with what they have,” the Belarusian president said.
Last May, dozens of members of Belarusian and Russian gay organisations gathered on the Belarusian capital’s main street, although the authorities gave no permission to hold the parade.
Special police forces suppressed the parade arresting 10 activists for “disorderly behaviour”.
The event also attracted anti-gay protesters, who threw eggs into the crowd.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
rd
- Belarusian police cordon off Minsk central square to quell protest - Jun 16, 2011
- Seven dead in Minsk metro blast - Apr 12, 2011
- 11 dead in Minsk metro blast: Belarus president (Lead) - Apr 12, 2011
- Russian embassy bomber jailed in Belarus - May 27, 2011
- Russian human rights activist detained in Minsk - Apr 29, 2011
- Belarusian President warns action against protesters - Jun 15, 2011
- Belarus executes bomber - Mar 17, 2012
- Russia restricts Belarusian airline - Apr 06, 2012
- Rush-hour metro blast jolts Belarusian capital, kills 11 (Lead) - Apr 12, 2011
- Belarus executes Minsk subway bombers - Mar 18, 2012
- Belarus stops gas transit to Europe - Jun 22, 2010
- Release bombers' bodies: Amnesty urges Belarus - Mar 21, 2012
- Anti-gay propaganda bill passed in Siberia - Apr 26, 2012
- Obama urges more pressure on Belarus' Lukashenko - May 29, 2011
- Five opposition protesters sentenced to jail in Belarus - May 06, 2011
Tags: activists, alexander lukashenko, belarus minsk, belarusian president, capital of belarus, disorderly behaviour, eggs, executive committee, gay organisations, gay parade, gay parades, gay protesters, news agencies, organizers, outskirts, police forces, president alexander, ria novosti, russian news, special police