That’s the worst attack that happened during this year’s nation-wide protest marking the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
LGBT-rights supporters planned to release balloons as part of "Rainbow Flashmobs" in 13 cities around Russia on Saturday to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Polina Korchagina, courtesy of Coming Out / Via comingoutspb.ru
Organizers were prepared for the worst, since violent counter-protestors had shown up in previous years:
Last year, Vitaly Milonov, a St. Petersburg lawmaker who authored the model for the "homosexual propaganda" law, participated in a counter protest with posters equating homosexuality with pedophilia. "Young boys: More than 14 incidents," read the poster.
Alexander Demianchuk / Reuters
There were no major confrontations reported this year, despite rants by hate groups on social media. There was a minor scuffle as 200 participants got off the bus in St. Petersburg, but the balloons were released without a hitch.
"Today's IDAHOT "Rainbow flashmob" rally on Marsovo Pole, St. Peterburg's city center, looked more like a celebration than in the years prior," said Polina Andrianova of the organization that arranged the event, Coming Out, in a statement. This was thanks to some 200 police officers who provided security.
One participant in the far Northeastern city of Murmansk was arrested and charged with "propaganda of homosexuality," according to Svetlana Zakharova of the Russian LGBT Network, but the details of the arrest were not yet available.
Kseniya Kirichenko, courtesy of Coming Out / Via comingoutspb.ru
The worst confrontation reported came from the eastern city of Khaborovsk, where counter protestors showed up. They were determined to take a bold stand against balloons. Here's what happened:
Andrew Gerasimov / Via youtube.com