Attacks on gay clubs in Moscow

On May 30 and 1, 2006, skinheads and Orthodox activists attacked gay clubs in Moscow.

On the night of May 1, 2006 in Moscow, skinheads and representatives of the Orthodox community attacked the gay club "Renaissance event club" (formerly the venue for the De La Guarda show), located at the address: st. Ordzhonikidze, 11. The attack was organized by the Russian National Union (RONS), headed by I. Artemov. Internet forums report that the attackers numbered between 200 and 500 people, chanting (in addition to homophobic and Christian slogans) "Russia is for the Russians!", "No illegal migration!" , blocked the approaches to the club, threw eggs, bottles and stones at the doors. Skinheads cordoned off the club and patrolled the nearest metro stations. Several people were beaten, including children. At about 2:00 am, the attackers, in two stages, left the scene in an organized manner on the given buses. The police officers did not interfere with the protesters. Nobody was detained.

On May 1, 2006, a group of aggressive people, led by I. Artemov, shouting nationalist and homophobic slogans, tried to break into the Three Monkeys gay club. About 150-300 people, outwardly resembling skinheads, blocked Nastavnichesky Lane, where the club was located. Several buses with OMON officers arrived at the club building and dispersed the attackers. According to police officers, about 20 (according to other sources 39) people were detained.

On the night of May 1, 2006, the lesbian club "Thematic" burned down. According to the agency "LINA", skinheads broke a window on the first floor and set fire to the building of the "Art Center on Krutitsy", where the club rented a room. By the time firefighters arrived, the rear had burned down completely. On May 1, 2006, at 2 pm, members of the RONS came to the club building, intending to hold a rally, but they saw the club burned down. After chanting nationalist and homophobic slogans, the RONS activists dispersed.

website for more details. See also the Religion in a Secular Society

Based on internet blogs.

Based on materials from right-wing radical sites.

Sources

• Moscow gay club under siege // BBCRussian.com. 2006. May 2.