Tara Tainton

The activists planned to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The memorial is a symbol of the Second World War struggle against fascism, and one of Russia's most sacred places.

Police closed the gates to the park, however, barring the marchers from their destination. Then a group of about 100 people, including women singing hymns and shaven-head Russian nationalists, tried to head-off the group and charge into the parade.

They chanted "Moscow is not Sodom," and kicked and punched the demonstrators, according to CTV's Ellen Pinchuk, reporting from Moscow.

"It was kind of violent out there, it was tense. There were people who were looking for someone to beat up out there," Pinchuk told CTV.ca.

Police arrived quickly, Pinchuk said.

"Special forces showed up and started kicking people out of the square where this whole situation was unfolding."

There did not appear to be any serious injuries resulting from the clash, though Pinchuk said a number of "random beatings," took place and police appeared to be focusing on the group of about 40 gay rights activists.

"It did appear they were more interested in arresting members of the gay and lesbian community than those who had come there to beat them up, so that was closely watched by international observers here from human rights groups, and members of the European Parliament."

Police later separated the two sides, forming a human barricade between the activists and a group of skinheads who tried to rush towards the activists.

The skinheads, wearing masks over their faces, threw flares as they attempted to rush the group, but were stopped and dragged away by riot police.

"This is a great victory, an absolute victory -- look at what's happening," said the leader of the march, 26-year-old Nikolai Alexeyev as he was dragged away from the gates by police.

Interfax news agency reported police had detained around 100 people after the clashes.

The march had been banned by city authorities, and had been condemned by religious leaders from all major faiths.

"Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has said right from the beginning there will be no gay pride parade in Moscow," Pinchuk said.

She said the clash, though described as a victory by some, was also terrifying.

"We spoke with a Canadian who was taking part in the organization of the parade. He said that in all his experience in Canada he was never afraid to show his sexual preference, but here he was really terrified," Pinchuk said.

The man was wearing a T-shirt with a rainbow-coloured Maple Leaf, but covered it up with his jacket for fear of being attacked, Pinchuk said.

Organizers kept the location secret for fear of violence.

The parade was meant to mark the culmination of several days of festivities planned as part of Russia's first Gay Pride festival.

Gay activists from across Europe had been invited to the march. According to reports, about 40 activists took part.

Homosexuality was illegal in Russia until 1993, and public displays of affection between same-sex couples are almost unheard of."

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Anonymous | 2009-12-14 00:29 michael g.b. 05/27/2006 10:08 PM "Culture Clashes" are always frought with anger . . . and anger inevitably creates an atmosphere conducive to violence . . . and violence usually leads to more violence. Russia . . . "Holy Mother Russia" . . . land of the Firebird . . land of "The Czars" . . . Czar Nicholas (not an evil man) watched his "cossacks" mow down peaceful demonstrators at his palace calling out to their "Little Father" for his attention to the injustices they faced . . .and they were beaten and arrested (and many died) . . . (they were led by priests to appeal to their "Father's Mercy" and got clubbed instead . . . the Soviet Communists suppresed EVERYONE! eben their own party members perished under Stalin and other party leaders . . . demonstrators faced "gulags" or "mental asylums" . . . "Churches" and religious faced partucular oppression . . . and now, it's "gays" who face these same brutalities as they seek being treated with "fairness" and justice . . . and all of those who were oppressed before now oppress the gays . . . Kris Kristofferson waas right when he sang in "Jesus Was A Capricorn" -- "everybody needs somebody to look down on . . . so help yourself to me." sad . . . one doesn't have to agree with gays . . . nor even approve . . but simply permit a person to live with their human rights and person intact whether he/she be gay or straight . . . remember your own history and treat the next with the respect perhaps you had been denied. Linda Smith 05/27/2006 10:17 PM I am glad there WAS a first Pride Parade in Moscow! I think it was their fear of the possibility of violence, that caused it. It could have been much *worse*. Tara, your Supportive WebMistress 05/28/2006 12:03 AM That is what I think it boils down to, Michael...just one person granting another to live their own life. So simple yet so hard for some to grasp or permit ...

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