Gay rights activists and members of the LGBT community have apparently taken to wearing police uniforms to protest the recently passed anti-gay propaganda law.
Moscow police Tuesday detained two gay activists dressed as female police officers, one of them wearing handcuffs.
It seems they may have been inspired by a similar protest that took place in Amsterdam over the weekend, photos of which show men and women clad in Russian riot police uniforms at a gay-pride parade.
Demonstrators at Amsterdam's gay-pride rally dressed as Russian riot police as they float along in a boat.
The activists, representatives of the Dutch chapter of Amnesty International, held signs reading things like, "Too Gay" while they sailed along the river in a boat. Some of the uniforms were also supplemented with necklaces.
The pictures were met with mostly supportive comments, with people praising the effort to protest the anti-gay legislation, which stipulates fines for promoting homosexuality among minors.
One blogger, Andrei Malgin, noted that in addition to the anti-gay legislation getting publicity because of the protests, OMON, Russia's riot police, is also becoming an internationally recognized acronym.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.