Chief editor of Russia Today TV channel raised the issue during special conference in Moscow
A special conference dedicated to the issue of the image of Russia in the eyes of the International community took place in Moscow on June 15. Deputies of the Russian State Duma, members of the Federation Council and the Public Chamber as well as journalists were part of the discussions.
One of the topics, by surprise, was the violent police break up of the Gay Pride in the Russian Capital last May.
The Internet site Infox.ru reports in an article titled “Image of Russia could be saved by the Gay Parade” the positive view expressed by Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russia Today, a State owned news TV channel, broadcasting in English language outside of Russia.
Mrs. Simonyan reminded that the ban of the gay pride in Moscow was long discussed in the foreign press.
“From here, it seems to be a minor thing but in reality it very much spoils the image of Russia”, - she stressed.
“After the police stopped the gay pride, BBC dedicated a one hour program to this event”, she added.
“Last time this happened was in August during the war in the Caucasus” said Mrs. Simonyan.
TV Channel Russia Today regularly and objectively covers different events in the life of the LGBT Community in Russia. This year the journalists of the channel not only covered the public action of the Slavic Gay Pride on May 16th but also the attempt to register a same-sex marriage on May 12th.
Moscow authorities headed by the Mayor Yuri Luzhkov impose a systematic ban on any public events organized by sexual minorities. Moscow Mayor personally banned the marches of the gay prides in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Organizers appealed the bans to the European Court of Human Rights.
Mr. Luzhkov called gay prides “satanic gathering” and gays as “weapons of mass destruction” and “responsible for the spread of HIV infection in the city”.
GayRussia.Ru
