Russia: St. Petersburg lawmakers demand investigation into attack on LGBT activists
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 August 2017 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: St. Petersburg lawmakers demand investigation into attack on LGBT activists, 15 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a9fb7f34.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 15, 2017 07:47 GMT
RFE/RL's Russian Service
Interior Ministry officers stand near an LGBT rally in St. Petersburg on August 12.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Seven members of the Legislative Assembly in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, have urged local law enforcement to investigate an attack on LGBT activists.
Local lawmaker Boris Vishnevsky said on August 14 that he and six other lawmakers have written to the police chief of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, Sergei Umnov, urging him to fully investigate an attack that occurred on August 12.
Several young men used pepper spray to attack the LGBT activists, who had rallied in the city. Some 15 activists and journalists who were covering the rally were injured in the attack.
According to the journalists and lawmakers, police officers were standing not far from the site when the attack took place but did not interfere.
Some journalists have started their own investigations and published photos of the incident on Facebook.
It is expected that Umnov will respond to the lawmakers' note later on August 15.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
