Russian paratroopers attack lone LGBT activist for protesting anti-gay law

Krill Kalugin was attacked for holding a rainbow banner that read, "This is propagating tolerance"

Published August 2, 2013 10:00PM (EDT)

   (YouTube)
(YouTube)

A lone gay rights activist was assaulted by a group of former Russian paratroopers in St. Petersburg on Friday. Why? Because he was holding a rainbow banner that read: "This is propagating tolerance."

The disturbing attack was captured on video, and, according to a translation from Animal New York, the former military men shouted "faggot" while violently shoving the young activist, Krill Kalugin, to the ground.

Kalugin was in Palace Square to protest Russia's draconian new law banning "gay propaganda," an exceedingly broad term that effectively criminalizes being openly gay in Russia.

Riot police intervened to detain the former paratroopers, though it remains to be seen if Kalugin will be charged for violating the new law.

You can watch the video below:


By Katie McDonough

Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.

MORE FROM Katie McDonough


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Gay Rights Lgbt Rights Video