Attacks on gay activists like 'return to Soviet era'

RUSSIA: A gay pride march in Moscow at which far-right activists kicked and punched the marchers was like a return to Soviet…

RUSSIA:A gay pride march in Moscow at which far-right activists kicked and punched the marchers was like a return to Soviet-era repression, British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said yesterday.

Mr Tatchell, who had a black eye after being punched during the march on Sunday, said police failed to intervene as marchers were attacked by nationalists shouting "death to homosexuals".

Police have denied ignoring the attacks.

"The behaviour of the Moscow police was some of the worst I've ever experienced," Mr Tatchell said outside a Moscow police station where he filed a complaint about the assault. "The police stood back and allowed the fascist thugs to attack us. They made very few efforts to stop them.

"[ It] was very reminiscent of the repression by the police in the Brezhnev era." - (Reuters)

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