Luzhkov, who has called gay pride parades "satanic" and has banned them in Moscow, railed against gays in interviews Tuesday on the radio program "Face-to-City" and later on TV-Center television. "Gay parades cannot be held in Moscow because of public morals and the safety of sexual minorities," he said. "First, our society has healthy morals and does not accept these queers and, second, if they get permission to parade there is another radical part of society that would kill them."
Alexeyev said he held little hope that he would win the lawsuit that he filed in Moscow's Tverskoi District Court. "Nobody in Russia can win against the authorities. This is about raising awareness," he told Reuters.
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.