Gays, other minorities ‘forced out’

Saint Petersburg – A space for gay and ethnic minority football fans in Saint Petersburg during the World Cup was forced to relocate at the last minute in a move activists believe was politically motivated.

The owners of the building that was set to host Diversity House, where fans could meet and watch matches, told organisers days ahead of the opening that they were withdrawing their cooperation.

Piara Powar, director of international anti-discrimination network FARE, which is overseeing the project, said at the weekend that the move was “familiar” to rights groups in Saint Petersburg.

The last-minute pull-out appeared to be a “political attack of the kind that shows how debates about human rights are curtailed by powerful conservative political forces in Russia”.

Powar last month said the network had sought assurances from Russian authorities that Diversity Houses in both Moscow and Saint Petersburg would be allowed to go ahead during the World Cup. Local organiser Elena Belokurova said the group had found a new location in the centre of Saint Petersburg and it was already open.

She said there had been no threats from the owners of the building where the project was originally planned, near the city’s main fan zone.

Moscow Diversity House opened last week and has been hosting events in the city centre.

British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell was briefly arrested last week for a oneman protest near Red Square against President Vladimir Putin’s record on gay rights.

Violence against gays and homophobic rhetoric in Russia regularly make global headlines.

‘‘ Debates about human rights are curtailed by powerful political forces