40 gay pride protesters were arrested in Moscow on Saturday in a violent confrontation between protesters and police.

The Slavic Pride protest had been outlawed by Moscow city authorities last week, but official permission was given to counter-demonstrations by far right ultra-nationalists.

1000 riot police were waiting at Pushkin Square in central Moscow, were the gay pride protest had originally been planned. However a last minute location change meant that protesters gathered new Moscow’s main university and chanted slogans for 5 minutes before the police arrived.

Amongst those arrested were British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and Chicago LGBT activist Andy Thayer. Slavic Pride organiser Nikolai Alekseev was held down by 5 fully armed riot police and arrested.

Tatchell was later released after intervention from the British Embassy. However Alekseev is still in custody. We can’t make contact with him,” said Tatchell. “We’re very concerned for his safety and well-being.”

Slavic Pride had been timed to coincide with the Eurovision Song Contest, in the hope that the competition would draw international attention to the situation facing LGBT people in Russia.

“The Russian Government is using this years Eurovision in Moscow as a gala showpiece to show the world how far the country has improved since the early 1990′s.” said a spokesperson for Slavic Pride.

“However, what was witnessed this afternoon on the streets of Moscow shows the world just how little Russia has travelled when it comes to supporting fundamental human rights.

“The police brutality that we witnessed here this afternoon is shocking. We planned a peaceful march to highlight the dire state of LGBT rights in Russia today.

“The police, given violent legitimacy by the openly homophobic Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, did not hold back with their weapons, despite the world’s media watching.

“We were defending the often violated human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians. We demand the same legal protection against discrimination and hate crimes that none LGBT people enjoy.

“This episode has shamed the Russian Government and Moscow authorities before the world.”

Watch ITV footage of the Slavic Pride protest:
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