MOSCOW, May 27 (RIA Novosti) - Police detained 31 persons, including two citizens of Italy, during an unauthorized action in support of a gay parade in the Russian capital, the Moscow interior department said Sunday.

Moscow authorities earlier refused to allow a gay pride parade set for May 27, saying the event would interfere with the rights and interests of other citizens.

However, gay rights activists tried to stage a protest in the center of Moscow on May 27 and present a petition to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov requesting the Russian capital's authorities to lift a ban on the parade.

Last year, Luzhkov also refused permission for the march. At the time, organizers petitioned the Version Court of Moscow, but their motion was dismissed.