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Moscow Gay Pride Awarded the Europahøjskolen Prize

Danish school recognises Russian struggles for civil rights

KALØ, December 9, 2009  – Students at the Europahøjskolen (European School) in northern Denmark have recognised the struggle of the gay community in Moscow for the past four years to stage a Gay Pride in the Russian capital.

Each year the Europahøjskolen presents a prize to people or organisations that are struggling for European values and civil rights such as the right to speak and the right to freedom to assembly.

This year, the jury of students awarded the Europahøjskolen Prize to Moscow Pride who have been battling homophobia since 2005 as they try to stage a Gay Pride March.  Each year, there have been confrontations with the police, including the OMOH (the OMON security police), with Pride organisers being arrested and visiting European politicians and activists suffering injuries.

“It is important for the Europahøjskolen to support the people behind the Moscow Pride and their work for the rights of minorities in Russia,” said Johann Bang Jensen, the principal of Europahøjskolen.

“The struggle for the right to live a free homosexual life in Russia is a part of the struggle against discrimination and for the rights for all kinds of communities.

“The Europahøjskolen wishes to support not only the Moscow Pride Organising Committee but also to send a clear signal to the Russian government.  The school hopes that European politicians and institutions will take part in this protection of civil rights.  It is important that the world minorities will be given the needed attention.”

Nikolai Alekseev, who received the prize on behalf of the Moscow Pride organising committee commented: “We are very honoured to receive this prize especially because  next year, we will celebrate a our 5th attempt to stage Moscow Pride – and we expect a positive decision from the European Court of Human Rights which is reviewing the previous bans of Moscow Pride by the Russian authorities.”

Previous recipients of the Europahøjskolen Prize have been the former Danish Foreign Minister, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, EU commissioner Margot Wahlström and the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaja.

■ Europahøjskolen is a college for students who have completed secondary education.  It provides students with a unique experience of living and studying in a multicultural environment, embracing European heritage by discussing topics such as literature, politics, and public welfare at an international level.

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