Russian police break up gay rally on Eurovision day

Dozens of Russian riot police broke up a gay rights demonstration yesterday before the Eurovision Song Contest final in Moscow, grabbing protesters and throwing them into police cars and vans.

A police spokesman said around 40 people were arrested but Russia's Interfax news agency quoted a police source as saying up to 81 gay rights activists had been detained, including 32 held at a separate protest in the city centre.

Russian riot police trampled hedges and pushed reporters away when they arrested about 35 protesters unfurling banners at the Sparrow Hills park overlooking central Moscow, calling for gay rights. Those arrested included Russian, Belarussian and British campaigners.

"There is no freedom for gays in Russia," British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell shouted as police bundled him into a waiting car at the park, which is popular with newlyweds. "We call on President (Dmitry) Medvedev to meet with us."

Mr Tatchell was released a few hours later after what he said was intervention from the British Embassy in Moscow.

Gay activists in Russia say they are fighting for their constitutional rights in a deeply intolerant society and compare their plight to that of gays in western Europe last century.

The late leader of Russia's influential Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, said that homosexuals suffered a mental disorder similar to shoplifters.

Yesterday's protest was timed to coincide with the Eurovision contest, where singers from 42 European nations compete to win one of the continent's biggest television events, in order to draw attention to the fate of gays in Russia.