Follow live, on the scene blogging about Moscow Pride at the following URL:

http://ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/08/May/3107.htm

At 1 PM local time (4 AM U.S. Central Time) Russian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) people will attempt to conduct the 3rd annual Moscow Pride with a picket in front of Moscow City Hall, at the offices of the notoriously anti-gay Mayor Luzhkov.

Already the authorities have attempted to arrest Moscow Pride's principal organizer, Nikolai Alexeyev, in a "pre-emptive arrest" which is very common in the country. Fortunately he has thus far evaded capture.



Two days ago, in an apparent move towards liberalization, gayrussia.ru reported:

"It was announced that Administration of Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev called Prefecture of the Central Administrative area of Moscow to allow Gay Pride event in one of the locations in downtown Moscow. Though the organizers still have not received any proposals from Moscow authorities."

Given that local authorities have already tried to arrest Mr. Alexeyev this morning, it's clear that Moscow LGBT people still very much have their work cut out for them.



Pictures of this year's Moscow Pride will be posted as soon as they become available.