Amnesty International urges Russia to permit gay parade

Moscow, May 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Amnesty International is urging authorities in Moscow to reverse their decision to ban a gay parade.

Moscow's city government in mid-May officially rejected an application to hold a gay pride parade due to complaints from religious groups, ultra-nationalists and the Moscow City Parent Committee.

'So-called public morality concerns can never be used to justify restrictions on the freedom of expression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people,' the head of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Programme, Nicola Duckworth said.

In October, the European Court of Human Rights fined Russia for banning gay parades in Moscow.

The Strasbourg court said fears that such marches could provoke violence were unfounded and ordered Russia to pay $41,090 in damages and legal fees.

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