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Russian Foreign Ministry Blasts British Embassy for Supporting LGBT Festival

Vitaly Milonov Sergey Chernov / MT

Russia's Foreign Ministry has criticized a number of foreign diplomats for supporting the Side By Side LGBT film festival in St. Petersburg, calling it “unacceptable,” the Interfax news agency reported Monday.

“We brought to the attention of the British Embassy in Moscow the fact that employees of the diplomatic mission are participating in an attempt to break down Russia's traditional, moral and family values, and this is unacceptable,” the Foreign Ministry's statement said, Interfax reported.

The statement was made after a request from a St. Petersburg deputy Vitaly Milonov — known for his conservative views. He requested that the ministry investigate the legality of foreign diplomats participating in the festival.

The ministry noted that the Norwegian and Swedish consulates and the Australian and Canadian embassies are also partners of the festival, Interfax reported.

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