The Department of Public Safety for the Sverdlovsk region has refused to permit a public heterosexual pride rally in Ekaterinburg on Nov. 13.
"The rally was not agreed upon," an official from the department told the Interfax news agency, citing technical problems with the organizers' application documents as the reason for refusing them a permit.
The march was organized by Sergei Yarutin, who heads a group called Patriots of Russia. According to him, the purpose of the march was to "protect children from information that promotes the negation of traditional values."
Earlier, the same authorities rejected an application for an LGBT march that was planned to be held on Nov. 8. in the same city.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
