Criminal case - because of a banner

In early September 2005, a criminal case was opened in the Komi Republic against Maxim Lazarev, the initiator of the gay parade in Syktyvkar. Lazarev is accused of placing a banner online (on his website) advertising images recognized as pornographic (Article 242 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Law enforcement officers conducted a search in Lazarev's apartment and seized a computer.

M. Lazarev is sure that he is being persecuted solely in order to prevent a gay pride parade from being held in Komi.

Sources

• In Komi, they want to disrupt the gay parade? // Gay.Ru. 2005. September 17.