Moscow Scientists and LGBT activists did a "regular clean up" of Prosecutor General Office
Moscow 'Rainbow Association' LGBT Organization and 'University Solidarity' trade union of University teachers held the "Regular clean up of the General Prosecutor's Office" protest action at Petrovskie Vorota in Moscow on July 9th.
About 30 activists protested against "the persecution of teachers of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University in Arkhangelsk launched by the Public Attorney Office together with the Federal Security Service for teachers' social activity and open support of LGBT people...
Organizers of the protest action wished to hold it in front of the headquarters of the Russian Prosecutor General but the authorities denied to issue the clearance.
The core demand was "the cancellation of unlawful intrusion of the public attorney into labor relations on the employer's part", says the press-release which was published after the LGBT protest action. Activists were waving trade union banners and rainbow flags, holding posters with signs: "Public Attorney should suppress the crime, not to provoke it", "Down with prosecution of university teachers for their open support of LGBT people", "Wanna work? Then be mute!", "We demand to rehabilitate associate professor Oleg Klyuenkov and stop repressions against Olga Pospelova", "Equal labor rights for everyone!"
For reference: On the grounds of the written statement of Arkhangelsk City Prosecutor General's office the associate professor Oleg Klyuenkov was fired and senior scientific officer Olga Pospelova was keelhauled. The administration of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University makes no secret that the law enforcement agencies have been interested and intervening in the labor relations due to on-going scrutiny of the local LGBT organization "Rakurs" where these teachers are also working. For example, associated professor Tatiana Vinichenko (the head of the ARPO "Rakurs" was told that she would continue to work at the university provided she quits any social activity. The University's professors are not going to quit and have already filed a suit to the local court. Links: The Rainbow Association
Organizers of the protest action wished to hold it in front of the headquarters of the Russian Prosecutor General but the authorities denied to issue the clearance.
For reference: On the grounds of the written statement of Arkhangelsk City Prosecutor General's office the associate professor Oleg Klyuenkov was fired and senior scientific officer Olga Pospelova was keelhauled. The administration of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University makes no secret that the law enforcement agencies have been interested and intervening in the labor relations due to on-going scrutiny of the local LGBT organization "Rakurs" where these teachers are also working. For example, associated professor Tatiana Vinichenko (the head of the ARPO "Rakurs" was told that she would continue to work at the university provided she quits any social activity. The University's professors are not going to quit and have already filed a suit to the local court. Links: The Rainbow Association
