UK

Gay Russian Activist On Website Porn Charges

 
 

 

  
Sept 16 Update to this article,
click here

 


The alleged pornographic non-
pornographic website
(in Russian)

 

 

MOSCOW, September 12 (GayRussia.ru Wire)  –  A gay activist from the Komi Republic in the Russian Federation has been charged with pornography on his non-pornographic website.  And other gay activists in Russia are fearing the start of a wide-ranging clampdown on gay websites and publications.

On September 6, local prosecutor in the Komi Republic (one of 89 regions of Russia) started criminal proceedings against the head of the LGBT project Another Life, Maxim Lazarev, on charges of pornography advertising.

The site, www.komiproekt.com/  has never contained any photos or videos of pornographic content. The only links that led to such material were included in the banner network in which the site participated.

Lazarev’s flat in Syktyvkar, the capital of Komi Republic, which is north east of Moscow and inside the Arctic Circle, was raided by the police.  His computer and discs were taken for inspection.

He was interrogated by the police and is currently waiting for the court hearing of his case.  If found guilty, he can face up to two years in jail or a substantial fine.

Project GayRussia.Ru emphasised that the police action against Maxim Lazarev started after he had announced his intention to conduct the first Gay Pride in his city – and supported the initiative of the first ever Pride Festival in Moscow, to be held in May 2006.

Lazarev also gave a long and detailed interview to the project GayRussia.Ru about gay life in his region.

“We are aware that Maxim Lazarev received warnings and threats even from some people within the Russian gay community,” said Nikolai Alexeyev, head of Project GayRussia.

“Prosecution for advertising pornographic materials on the gay site is the first of its kind in Russia,” he added.  “It is not clear yet whether this is an individual action against a prominent local gay activist or a start of a major campaign of Russian law enforcing authorities.”

Project GayRussia.Ru will continue to closely monitor the situation with Maxim Lazarev and will do all it can to work for an acquittal, Alexeyev said.

■ Updated article (Sept 16)

LINKS

Gay Russia website

 
 

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