May 16, 2007News: Gay Pride in St. Petersburg Banned
By vanrozenheim
(Moscow, Russia) – The REGNUM news agency is reporting this afternoon that the committee on law, order and security of St. Petersburg government denied permission to hold first ever gay pride parade on the central street of the city – Nevski Prospect – on 26 May. According to the report, a detailed answer with the official notification of the ban will be given to the organiers of the St. Petersburg Gay Pride after it is studied by the lawyers. However, that the ban is due to the fact that there are many other festive events planned for City Day on May 27.
The application for St. Petersburg Pride was sent to the city authorities on Monday. Press secretary of the Pride, Alexandra Polyanskaya, said that “notification to conduct the march is given to the administration of St. Petersburg and we don’t see any reasons why the governor Matvienko can deny to us the conduct of this event”.
After the release of the information about the pride ban, Polyanskaya said that the organisers would be considering their position.
Consideration is being given to an appeal to the court. Also, a press conference is being considered.
The plan is to hold the St. Petersburg Gay Pride Parade on the city’s main street, Nevski Prospect.
