>
The State Department expressed its “concern” about the disruption of a Moscow gay-rights demonstration Sunday, during which Americans were detained by security forces and some protesters suffered serious injuries during scuffles with counter protesters.
A police spokesman told Russian news agencies that 18 gay activists and 14 opponents were arrested during unauthorized demonstrations at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin and outside the mayor’s office, the Associated Press reported.
Among the arrested were Dan Choi, an American Iraq war veteran, and Andy Thayer, a Chicago-based activist, the New York Times reported.
Moscow routinely bans gay-rights demonstrations, earning the ire of the U.S. and the European Court of Human Rights, which has fined Russia for doing so.
>The State Department statement released Sunday read: “We note with concern that in Moscow on Saturday, May 28, a peaceable demonstration of Russians advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians, joined by international supporters, was forcefully disrupted by counter-protesters, and that Russian security forces then detained people from both groups, including American citizens. Some protestors were seriously injured according to media reports.
“Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right all members of the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] committed to, including in the Moscow declaration and as recently as the Astana summit.
“As nationwide legislative elections approach, constraints on the ability of Russian citizens peacefully to gather and express their views will be closely watched in evaluating the integrity of the electoral process. We call on Russian authorities to work with municipal officials to find better ways to safeguard these fundamental freedoms.”
Earlier Sunday, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of his top Russian advisor, Michael McFaul, to be the next Russian Ambassador.
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