Abduction Was 'Really Frightening', Says Russian Gay Activist Nikolai Alekseev
PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 19, 2010
Prominent Russian gay activist Nikolai Alekseev (also spelled Alexeyev),
who was abducted Wednesday by security officials, said the ordeal was
“really frightening,” the AP reported.
who was abducted Wednesday by security officials, said the ordeal was
“really frightening,” the AP reported.
Alekseev is the organizer of Moscow's Gay Pride Parade. The annual event,
which has been routinely banned by Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, is
more a protest than a parade and is marred by frequent, often violent,
clashes with the police.
which has been routinely banned by Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, is
more a protest than a parade and is marred by frequent, often violent,
clashes with the police.
The activist was arrested as he attempted to board a Swiss Air Lines flight
bound for Geneva.
bound for Geneva.
He told the AP that he was whisked by four plain-clothed men to a
police station in the city of Kashira, about 25 miles from the airport.
police station in the city of Kashira, about 25 miles from the airport.
The men, who didn't identify themselves, hurled gay slurs at Alekseev
and pressured him to drop cases before the European Court of Human
Rights against Moscow's bans on gay rights rallies.
and pressured him to drop cases before the European Court of Human
Rights against Moscow's bans on gay rights rallies.
The Russian Interfax news agency on Friday reported that it had received
text messages from Alekseev's cellular phone saying that he was in Minsk, Belarus. But Alekseev said this telephone was confiscated and denied
sending the messages.
text messages from Alekseev's cellular phone saying that he was in Minsk, Belarus. But Alekseev said this telephone was confiscated and denied
sending the messages.
Alekseev said he was moved to the city of Tula on Friday and released
around dawn on Saturday. He traveled about 120 miles by bus to Moscow.
around dawn on Saturday. He traveled about 120 miles by bus to Moscow.
“I really thought something bad was going to happen; it was really
frightening,” he said.
frightening,” he said.
Activists are planning a protest against Moscow Mayor Luzhkov on
Tuesday. While other Russian cities have taken similar steps to ban
pro-gay events, Luzhkov has been outspoken in his objections to
gay rights, likening the gay parade to a “Satanic act” and a “social
plague” on par with drug abuse, xenophobia and ethnic feuding.
Tuesday. While other Russian cities have taken similar steps to ban
pro-gay events, Luzhkov has been outspoken in his objections to
gay rights, likening the gay parade to a “Satanic act” and a “social
plague” on par with drug abuse, xenophobia and ethnic feuding.
BY ON TOP MAGAZINE STAFF
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