The Smolny district court heard a case filed by Vykhod organization that had been questioning in court the local authorities decision to ban anti-homophobia gay picketing. The court refused to answer appellant's claim.

This organization's active members promise to continue legal "fight" in upper instance - Saint-Petersburg City court.

For reference: LGBT citizens wanted to hold a gay picket on April 11, 2010 in the Garden named after Chernyshevskiy, aimed at attracting public attention to the issue of danger for the society of homophobia. This action planned to be the concluding event of "The week against homophobia" information campaign.

Saint-Petersburg authorities refused to allow gay picket on the grounds of "desiccation of the garden during the time of holding of this picket". This ground was accepted by Vykhod organization but the organization was not satisfied by the authorities' proposal to consider holding of the gay picket at another time, not giving precise date for this action.

Igor Kochetkov, the head of the "Vykhod" organization, believes that this judgement violates not only the norms of the federal law, but the Constitution, reports the official Internet site of "Vyhod".

Translated by Yerdna Bananes