Moscow Mayor Bans Gay Pride March

Julie Bolcer

May 20 2010 11:45 AM EST

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For the fifth year in a row, Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov has banned the march planned for Moscow Pride on May 29.

According to UK Gay News, pride parade organizer Nikolai Alekseev awaits a formal refusal in writing, so that he may proceed with an appeal in the Tver district court.

"In accordance with Russian law, application for the parade was made to the Mayor's office on May 17, giving the proposed route," reports UK Gay News. "Plans were that the parade would end in Lubyanka Square.

"But Mr. Alekseev said that City Hall had not offered any alternate route for the march, which is contrary to the requirements of current legislation."

Luzhkov has previously described gay pride parades as "satanic."

The European Court of Human Rights is due to rule this year on complaints about the bans of three earlier Moscow gay pride parades. When marchers protested bans in previous years, violence ensued.