Brit gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell arrested in Moscow after one-man protest outside Kremlin

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been arrested in Moscow after staging a one-man protest outside the Kremlin.

He was detained in Red Sqaure which was busy with football fans ahead of the World Cup.

He held up a poster attacking Russian president Vladimir Putin. It read: ‘Putin fails to act against Chechnya torture of gay people’.

Peter Tatchell was detained in Red Square in Moscow (pictured) for staging a one-man protest

Several police officers moved in to detain him and load him into the back of a police car.

He was detained near a monument to Georgy Zhukov, the Soviet Red Army officer who became Chief of General Staff and served Russia between 1915 and 1957. 

He was transferred to a police station but was released after 90 minutes in custody.

He was loaded into the back of a police car after holding a sign up that said 'Putin fails to act against Chechnya torture of gay people'

He was loaded into the back of a police car after holding a sign up that said ‘Putin fails to act against Chechnya torture of gay people’

He was bailed to appear at a Moscow police station on July 26, two weeks after the World Cup has concluded.

He said he was made to sign a Russian police form, but was unable to understand what he was asked to put his name to.

A friend said: ‘He’s OK. But he doesn’t know what his plans are now. But he will have to go back to see the police.’

The British campaigner was transferred to a police station but was released after 90 minutes in custody

The British campaigner was transferred to a police station but was released after 90 minutes in custody

One-man protests are normally legal in Russia but during the World Cup a temporary rule has been introduced in some areas, meaning even one-man protests are illegal.

Tatchell said later: ‘I was exercising my lawful right to protest, under the Russian constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to protest in Articles 29 and 31. 

‘A one-person protest, which is what I did, requires no permission from the authorities and the police.

Mohamed Salah found himself amid controversy after meeting Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (left) on Monday

Mohamed Salah found himself amid controversy after meeting Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (left) on Monday

‘Getting arrested is standard for Russians who protest for LGBT+ rights or against corruption, economic injustice and Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its bombing of civilians in Syria.

‘Unlike brave Russian protesters, I have the “protection” of a British passport, which means I have been treated more leniently than they are.

‘My fate was mild compared to what often happens to Russians who dare to challenge the Putin regime. I am awed by their courage.’

The Chechen leader made a very public show of grasping Salah's hand for the photographers. Kadyrov's rule has been blighted by reports of a purge of gay people 

The Chechen leader made a very public show of grasping Salah’s hand for the photographers. Kadyrov’s rule has been blighted by reports of a purge of gay people 

‘President Putin has failed to condemn and act against the homophobic witch-hunts in Chechnya, which have seen scores of LGBT+ people arrested and tortured, with some even being killed.

‘The singer Zelim Bakaev disappeared in Chechnya in August 2017 and has never been seen since.

‘Russia’s 2013 anti-gay law against so-called “homosexual propaganda” has been used to suppress peaceful LGBT+ protests, sack LGBT+ teachers and suppress welfare organisations that support LGBT+ teenagers.

Kadyrov stands accused of torture, extra-judicial killings, a purge of gay people in Chechnya

Kadyrov stands accused of torture, extra-judicial killings, a purge of gay people in Chechnya

The Chechan leader was accused of using the high-profile Salah purely for political propaganda

The Chechan leader was accused of using the high-profile Salah purely for political propaganda

Salah travelled to the stadium with Kadyrov, where hundreds of gathered fans were waiting

Salah travelled to the stadium with Kadyrov, where hundreds of gathered fans were waiting

‘Little action has been taken by the Russian government and police to crack down on far right extremists who target LGBT+ people for violent and humiliating assaults – including the instigators of the current threats to bash and stab LGBT+ football fans at the World Cup. 

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah found himself at the centre of controversy after posing for photographs with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Monday.

Images of Salah and the controversial leader quickly circulated online, with Kadyrov visibly grasping the hand of the Egypt star as a show of solidarity. 

Discussion quickly spread of Kadyrov using the high-profile player as a piece of political propaganda, in order to soften his own image in public perception.

Kadyrov’s rule has been blighted by numerous reports of torture, extra-judicial killings, a purge of gay people in Chechnya among other human rights issues. 

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