Participants in a race in the Kaliningrad region town of Sovietsk were detained by police who had been led to believe that the runners were gay activists, Interfax reported.

Police stopped the group of athletes, which included schoolchildren and their parents, during a weekend race to promote healthy living habits after receiving an anonymous tip that a gay parade was being held in the town.

Police also cited as a reason for the group's detainment the fact that one participant carried a black, yellow and white "imperial" flag of Russia, which police interpreted as "sectarian."

Race organizers were forced to explain to police that the event was related only to athletics. All those detained were subsequently released.

(MT)