St. Petersburg Gay Pride Faces Roadblock

Officials in St. Petersburg, Russia, said a proposed gay pride parade route for this Sunday will be unavailable due to construction, and asked organizers to submit alternative routes and times.

According to Gay Russia, city officials said Friday that the route along Konnogvardeisky Boulevard to Decembrists Square would not be open due to "some rebuilding work." Organizers were asked to submit three alternatives.

Chief pride organizer Maria Efremenkova said the group would receive a reply from the city this Thursday. She vowed to hold the march regardless and to challenge any opposition to legal assembly in the European Court of Human Rights.