MOSCOW, May 16 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow police detained on Saturday about 40 people, who had allegedly taken part in an unsanctioned gay parade, a police spokesman said.
The head of the Gay Russia project Nikolai Alekseyev, U.S. gay rights activist Andy Thayer, and Peter Tatchell from the U.K. were among those detained in the capital's southwest a few hours ago.
"They were detained not for breaking the law, but as a warning that holding events unsanctioned by the authorities is unacceptable. After a cautionary talk and establishing all their identities, the detainees will be released," he said.
Moscow police issued a statement on Friday stating that they would stop any attempts by organizers to hold an unauthorized gay parade.
However, gay parade organizers said they would still go ahead with their plans for a "Slavic gay parade," involving not only Russian nationals but guests from Belarus as well. The organizers had also urged foreigners attending the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow to join them.
On May 7, the Moscow mayor's press secretary said: "The Moscow government is declaring that there has never been and never will be a gay parade in Moscow!"
Sergei Tsoi said such events are aimed at "not only destroying the moral foundations of our society but deliberately provoking disorder threatening the lives and security of Muscovites and guests to the capital."
Alekseyev said earlier that several public gay events had been scheduled for May 16.
Over the past three years, the Moscow city authorities have rejected official applications by organizers seeking permission to hold gay parades, on the grounds that the event would interfere with the rights and everyday lives of ordinary Muscovites.
An unsanctioned gay parade took place on Moscow's main Tverskaya Street on June 1, 2008, gathering around 200 people, mostly journalists and curious passers-by. Thirteen people were detained by Moscow police.
Russian gay rights activists have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights five times against decisions by the Russian authorities to ban gay marches in May 2006 and May 2007, and three pickets in 2007.
Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov has branded gay parades "Satanic" and has vowed that they will never be permitted in the capital, while the Russian Orthodox Church and various far-right groups have vowed to halt any attempt to hold a march in support of gay rights in Russia.
