GAY-BASHING IN MOSCOW: Peter Tatchell writes:

When Moscow’s mayor can abuse fundamental freedoms with impunity, it is doubtful that Russia is fit to hold the presidency of the Council of Europe – or even be a member.

President Putin’s silence is damning. He has said nothing in defence of the right to protest or of the human rights of Russia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Nevertheless, Moscow Pride was a huge success, despite all the homophobia it revealed and the savage repression it unleashed. It is a major milestone in Russian queer history. A handful of courageous gay Russians got up off their knees and stood tall, proud and defiant. They dared to take on the authoritarian regime of Mayor Luzhkov.

By insisting on the right to protest, they were defending more than gay rights: they were defending the democratic freedoms of all Russians, gay and straight.

That’s certainly true. Moscow needs more people willing to stand up to the authorities. Veronica Khokhlova has a big roundup on this event, too, one that takes a somewhat more negative view of the precedent that was set.