Monday, July 22, 2013

First Tourists Arrested in Russia for "Gay Propaganda"





It is time for the International Olympic Committee to relocate the 2014 Winter Games from Russia and send a strong message to dictator Vladimir Putin.  Many seemingly refused to take seriously the harsh homophobic law recently passed in Russia that can lead to arrest and jail time for even tourists.  Three Dutch tourists have been arrested and are now awaiting a hearing.  Their apparent crime?  Working on a documentary about the plight of gays in Russia.  A strong public humiliation of Russia is needed to send a message that backward, religious bigotry will make a country off limits for sought after international events.  Here are details from Gay Star News:


Three tourists were arrested in Russia for ‘gay propaganda’ today (21 July), making them the first foreigners to be officially charged under the anti-gay law.
In Murmansk in North Russia, three Dutch citizens were detained by police.
One of those arrested is Kris van der Veen, a councillor for the left-wing green party GroenLinks in Groningen. He is also chairman of the foundation KGBT Groningen, which campaigns for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
It is believed Van der Veen was making a documentary about gay rights in Russia and had been asking children about their views.
One of those arrested is Kris van der Veen, who is a councillor for the left-wing green party GroenLinks in Groningen. He is also chairman of the foundation KGBT Groningen, which campaigns for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
Nos says the four were making a documentary about gay rights in Russia and had been questioning youngsters about their views.
The four have been released pending their court appearance and Van der Veen used Twitter to say they are being helped by the Dutch consultate.
- See more at: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/07/four_dutch_nationals_arrested.php#sthash.xQee8jEf.dpuf
While the three Dutch tourists were being held in the police station, authorities said they had violated the ‘rules of stay in the territory of Russia’.
They were told they had broken the law of ‘non-traditional sexual relations’ propaganda among children, which was signed into law by President Vladimir Putin last month.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/first-tourists-arrested-russia-%E2%80%98gay-propaganda%E2%80%99220713#sthash.Wh79LOGP.pOADUvUb.dpuf
Three tourists were arrested in Russia for ‘gay propaganda’ today (21 July), making them the first foreigners to be officially charged under the anti-gay law.
In Murmansk in North Russia, three Dutch citizens were detained by police.
One of those arrested is Kris van der Veen, a councillor for the left-wing green party GroenLinks in Groningen. He is also chairman of the foundation KGBT Groningen, which campaigns for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
It is believed Van der Veen was making a documentary about gay rights in Russia and had been asking children about their views.
One of those arrested is Kris van der Veen, who is a councillor for the left-wing green party GroenLinks in Groningen. He is also chairman of the foundation KGBT Groningen, which campaigns for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
Nos says the four were making a documentary about gay rights in Russia and had been questioning youngsters about their views.
The four have been released pending their court appearance and Van der Veen used Twitter to say they are being helped by the Dutch consultate.
- See more at: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/07/four_dutch_nationals_arrested.php#sthash.xQee8jEf.dpuf
While the three Dutch tourists were being held in the police station, authorities said they had violated the ‘rules of stay in the territory of Russia’.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/first-tourists-arrested-russia-%E2%80%98gay-propaganda%E2%80%99220713#sthash.Wh79LOGP.pOADUvUb.dpuf


Three tourists were arrested in Russia for ‘gay propaganda’ today (21 July), making them the first foreigners to be officially charged under the anti-gay law.

In Murmansk in North Russia, three Dutch citizens were detained by police.  One of those arrested is Kris van der Veen, a councillor for the left-wing green party GroenLinks in Groningen. He is also chairman of the foundation KGBT Groningen, which campaigns for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.

It is believed Van der Veen was making a documentary about gay rights in Russia and had been asking children about their views.

One of those arrested is Kris van der Veen, who is a councillor for the left-wing green party GroenLinks in Groningen. He is also chairman of the foundation KGBT Groningen, which campaigns for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.

Nos says the four were making a documentary about gay rights in Russia and had been questioning youngsters about their views.

The four have been released pending their court appearance and Van der Veen used Twitter to say they are being helped by the Dutch consultate.

They were told they had broken the law of ‘non-traditional sexual relations’ propaganda among children, which was signed into law by President Vladimir Putin last month.

If convicted of the law, the three people could be heavily fined, held for up to 14 days in Russian prison and then deported back to the Netherlands.
 


No comments: