Moscow Mayor Calls Gay Pride Satanic

Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, a vehement opponent of LGBT rights, said Monday that he would once again make every effort to block a gay pride parade in the spring.

According to The New York Times,which cited reporting by the Interfax news agency, Luzhkov referred to gay pride parades as "satanic."

In recent years the mayor has ordered the breakup of gay pride parades and the detainment of advocates, resulting in violence. He promised the same for this May, when gay rights groups have said they will march again.

"We haven't permitted such a parade, and we won't permit it in the future," said Luzhkov, according to the Times. "It's high time that we stop propagating nonsense discussions about human rights and bring to bear on them the full force and justice of the law."