"A meeting was held Tuesday between representatives of the city administration and the organizers of this event, at which time the organizers of the Gay Pride Parade were officially denied permission from holding their march," Nikolai Kulikov said.
He explained the refusal by saying that holding the event would have interfered with the rights and interests of other citizens, contrary to existing legislation.
The Gay Pride Parade was to have been held in Moscow May 27. As one organizer, Nikolai Alekseev, said, this year participants had hoped to stage a three-day festival to call attention to gay rights, or their absence, in Russia.
Last year, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov also refused permission for the march. At the time, organizers petitioned the Tverskoi Court, but their motion was dismissed.
Nevertheless, an unsanctioned march took place May 27, 2006, during which more than 50 participants were detained.
