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August 29, 2013

Russia Invades Home of Leading Gay Activist 
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Authorities in Russia have raided the home of the country's leading gay
activist as part of a crackdown on LGBT rights. Nikolai Alexeyev says
police ransacked his home.

Nikolai Alexeyev: "I would say it was not a raid, but rather a pogrom.
Because the whole flat has been dug up. You can look here, in the
bathroom, there are broken tiles in the bathroom, in the other room
where my mother lives everything has been thrown out, the balcony has
been dug up. Everything has been totally dug up."

Alexeyev is a leading critic of a new law that allows Russian
authorities to fine anyone accused of promoting "propaganda of
nontraditional sexual relations among minors." The crackdown has sparked
protests around the world with some calling for a boycott of the 2014
Winter Olympics set to take place in Sochi, Russia.

 

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