Policemen force gay rights activist Daniel Choi into a police vehicle as they detain him near the Kremlin during a gay pride parade
MOSCOW (AFP) – Moscow police Saturday detained three prominent global gay rights leaders as violence broke out at an unprecedented rally that activists tried to stage near the Kremlin wall.
The protesters — waving rainbow flags and some carrying signs reading “Russia is not Iran” — were attacked during the unsanctioned rally by members of an ultra-Orthodox group who had gathered near the Kremlin in anticipation.
An AFP correspondent saw the police then move in and violently wrestle both activists and members of the religious group to the ground before leading them off in handcuffs to waiting security vans.
Those detained included the prominent US gay rights activist Dan Choi as well as Britain’s Peter Tatchell and France’s Louis-George Tin.
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