2 March 2006 - Euro-MP Caroline Lucas has backed demonstrators picketing the Russian Embassy in London today to protest at the Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov’s decision to ban the city’s first ‘Gay PRIDE’ rally.

The festival, due to take place later this year, has been cancelled after Mr Luzhkov announced last week that the city government will not allow a gay parade “in any form” and any attempt to hold a gay event will be “resolutely quashed”.

Dr Lucas, whose South-East England constituency plays host to Brighton’s annual PRIDE festival and parade, one of the largest in Europe, said the decision belied Russia ’s image as a modern, democratic state.

The Green Party MEP, who raised similar concerns when the Polish authorities tried to ban Warsaw PRIDE last year, said: “Threatening violent action towards the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Moscow will not stop people expressing their views and opinions and will, I fear, risk taking the city into a cycle of violence.

“Mr Luzhkov’s decision must be reversed immediately in line with Russia’s commitments to guarantee free speech, free assembly and freedom from discrimination as a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights.”

She added: “I commend the LGBT and human rights campaigners who have travelled from Brighton and elsewhere in the South-East to take part in today’s picket – and I hope the Russian Ambassador will be able to convey the strength of international outrage to the Moscow city authorities.”

ENDS