Alexander Yakovenko, Russia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, has drawn attention to Britain's silence on the anti-gay violence in Ukraine.
Wonder why UK, so concerned about gay rights in Russia, remains silent about far right attack on #LGBT rally in Kiev pic.twitter.com/N3iDgOxjXI
— Alexander Yakovenko (@Amb_Yakovenko) June 9, 2015
Several marchers were injured in Kiev on Sunday, according to Ukraine's Red Cross, when the 150-person equal rights rally was attacked by a militant nationalist group, Right Sector, effectively shutting down the rally. British media outlets generally ignored the attack on the gay right marchers, focusing on injured right-wing attackers and police while the country's government took no stance.
One of the beaten #LGBT activists after #KyivPride. At least 8 attacked by extremists, 3 in hospital. #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/rFPpMnpwF7
— Maxim Tucker (@MaxRTucker) June 6, 2015
The nationalist group voiced its discontent regarding the proposed march and vowed to prevent the "obscene orgy." Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko called on the organizers to cancel the event.
Right Sector is an organization of Ukrainian nationalists which is officially banned in Russia as an extremist organization. They are infamous for their involvement of numerous atrocities, including the Odessa massacre on May 2, 2014, in which 48 people were killed.
The British government had previously expressed "concern" over Russia's 2013 law on "gay propaganda", which is similar to that of several US states.
