■ Nikolai Alekseev (left) who effectively "outed" Russian MP Alexander Chuev  live on television.  Alekseev was quizzed yesterday by police over alleged slander.

MOSCOW, August 23, 2007 (GayRussia.ru)  –  The principal organiser of Moscow Gay Pride was yesterday quizzed by Moscow Police Central Investigations Department about the alleged slander under Article 129.2 of Russia’s Criminal Code of a Russian politician.

On June 21,  gay activist Nikolai Alekseev took part in the NTV talk show “K baryeru!” during which he called deputy of the State Duma Alexander Chuev, member of pro-Kremlin party Fair Russia, “gay, a coward and a hypocrite” who is only using orthodoxy and fight against homosexuality to reach his political goals.

Six days later, Mr. Chuev lodged a complaint with the General Prosecution department asking to check whether the statements of Nikolai Alekseev breached articles 129, 130 and 282 of Russia’s Criminal Code.

Then, at the beginning of this month, the Central Investigations Department opened a criminal case against Mr. Alekseev on the basis of Article 129, sending the rest of the accusations to the prosecution department of the North-Eastern Administrative Area of Moscow where Mr. Alekseev gave his evidences earlier as part of preliminary investigation.

During interrogation on yesterday, Mr. Alekseev appealed to Article 51 of Russia’s Constitution which allows him not to give evidence that could be used against him, adding that he will provide necessary evidence to court if the prosecution decides to go to court.

In a statement today, Mr. Alekseev said that he does not trust the investigators and is convinced that they will try to pressure any witnesses before any possible court hearing.

He also said that it became known on yesterday that the investigation department changed the detective who heads the case.  The one who initiated the case suddenly went on holidays, he said.

“In [the event of] the case being sent to court, the prosecution will probably have to ask for a closed hearing because some personal moments of Chuev’s life can emerge during the case,” Mr. Alekseev continued.

Privately he said to the detective that “this farce will collapse in court because there is no crime. Our authorities are always saying that there is no discrimination of homosexual people in Russia and at the same time they start criminal cases considering the word “gay” as spoiling someone’s reputation.  Deputy Chuev is now in the position of those people against whom he is all the time inciting hatred during his political activities”.

It is expected that tomorrow (Friday) Mr Alekseev and Mr. Chuev will meet with the detective together for further investigation.

Mr Alekseev indicated that gay activists will picket the Central office of the “Fair Russia” party early next month.  The action will be against political hypocrisy and will go under the theme “I also know that Chuev is gay”.

■  On Tuesday 21 August, the Tverskoi district court confirmed the local court decision in which Mr. Alekseev was fined 1,000 roubles (about. £20, $40) in administrative procedure after being arrested on May 27 during the Moscow Gay Pride action.  He spent 24 hours in police detention following the arrest.

Mr. Mr. Alekseev said he is planning to appeal to the European Court in Strasbourg which has yet to decide on a case arising from the 2006 Moscow Pride.

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Posted: 23 August 2007 at 15:30 (UK time)