According to the policemen' statements, the local police received signals that "teenagers of 14 years old and even younger were agitating for some weird things".
Several members of the mob-action were detained by the police in local police department for questioning. One of the organisers of the activities in the framework of the Russian week against homophobia in that city told us that every member participating in the action was of legal age - 20 years old or older. She also told us the fact that the police were demanding a special authorisation paper from the local city council to hold such an action. The police officials withdrew info materials (handouts, leaflets, cards) remained that were being handout during the mob-action, saying that "it was yet too early to hold those actions because there were still lots of "crazy people". After a while all detainees were released absolutely free of any charges.
Kazan's human rights defense Centre informed that under the acting Russian law there was no need in any "special authorisation from the authorities" for holding these actions and they would be thoroughly investigating the case, reports GayNews.Ru.
The action (handing out of leaflets, cards, stickers) on the central streets of Naberezhnye Chelny was organised in the framework of the Russian week against homophobia (RWAHO) that has been taking place in Russia on March 23-29th in a dozen of Russian regions. This action was a success in spite of the withdrawal by the police of some informational materials. RWAHO actions in Naberezhnye Chelny, its organisers believe, gave hope that the people had known something new on gay issue, e.g. that the homosexuality is NOT a disease.
Translated byYerdna Bananes