By banning gay pride parades in Moscow in in the years 2006, 2007, and 2008, Russian authorities violated the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights just ruled in a case brought by activist Nikolai Alexeyev. “[T]he mere risk of a demonstration creating a disturbance was not sufficient to justify its ban. If every probability of tension and heated exchanges between opposing groups during a demonstration resulted in a demonstration’s prohibition, society would be deprived of hearing differing views on questions which offended the sensitivity of the majority opinion, and that ran contrary to the Convention principles.” So maybe this means the end of Alexeyev being arrested for traffic violations when he attempts Pride 2011?
EARLIER:
Moscow Gay Activists Sentenced for ‘Popularizing Homosexuality’
Moscow Upholds Gay Pride March Ban
scott ny'er
Awesome ruling. Too bad that had to brought to court.
tallskin2
Good news. But I think more important than the court victory, important though that is, is that the evil slimeball mayor of moscow has been sacked.
alex
It is greatest news in my country!
jon
Good news, good thing Russia isn’t part of the EU!!!! Silly Queerty this ruling really means nothing.
Andrew
@jon: The European Court of Human Rights is not an EU institution but rather apart of the Council of Europe, of which Russia is indeed a full memeber.
AL
OK, that’s a good news. But here is the big question. Will the ruling have any effect on how Russia treats its gay citizens? Exactly.
hephaestion
Who writes these moronic headlines to these articles on Queerty? This headline is an appalling insult to your readers.
sebastian
Russia doesn’t take orders from EU, but they don’t want to maintain exceptionally bad image either, so now, as they got called out by EU court, they’ll have to think twice, and I believe they will.