The Moscow city government has rejected an application to hold gay pride parade in the Russian capital for the fifth straight year, the event's organizer said on Thursday.
"This year's ban turned out to be the fifth one in succession. Similar parades were prohibited by the Moscow mayor in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009," Nikolai Alexeyev said.
"Despite the requirements of the relevant legislation the Moscow government has not offered the organizers any alternatives for holding the planned event," he said.
Alexeyev said, however, that Moscow's homosexuals would not be stopped that easily.
"The action will be held anyway," he emphasized. "Gay activists have held unauthorized rallies every year, being beaten and detained by police."
The parade is planned for May 29. The organizers vow some 5,000 people will participate in the march along the central Myasnitskaya street. However, the final details about the parade have not yet been revealed.
Earlier, the organizers suggested they would hold the parade on the territory of a Western embassy in case it was not approved by the city government.
MOSCOW, May 20 (RIA Novosti)
