For the first time since the start of the Russian war of aggression, a Pride parade with hundreds of participants marched through the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kiev. As “ntv.de” reports, the venue was kept strictly secret for security reasons and was only announced on the morning of the event.
The aim of the secrecy was to avoid giving any opportunity for Russian attacks or radical counter-demonstrators who were gathering just one kilometer away. Despite strict controls and heavy rain, more and more people came to the venue, according to “ntv.de”.
The focus was on soldiers from the LGBTQ community who are not only fighting for equal rights, but have also asked the international community to supply weapons for the Russian war of aggression. The main message of the event, carried by LGBTQ soldiers, was “Arm Ukraine Now”.
The participants not only demonstrated for their rights, but also sent a courageous message of resistance. “Despite the attacks, we must show ourselves. We are one country, one nation, we do not give up. If our rights are taken away from us, we will fight for them,” a 27-year-old demonstrator told AFP journalists, according to reports from “Spiegel”, pointing to the increased repression against the LGBTQ community in Russia since the beginning of the war.
The demonstrators, from students to pensioners and diplomats, demanded, among other things, the punishment of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Ukraine.
While the Pride Parade was a peaceful demonstration of acceptance and equality, supporters of right-wing organizations also marched through the center of Kiev. Hundreds of right-wingers, some of them masked, tried to prevent the LGBT demonstration, reports “ntv.de”. However, the police initially ensured that the two demonstrations were strictly separated.
However, after only 30 meters and ten minutes, the Pride demonstration had to be called off. For safety reasons, the police and organizers asked all participants to get on the subway at the nearest station and go home because the group of right-wing counter-demonstrators had approached, “n-tv” continued.
According to “Spiegel”, several gay soldiers also took part in the parade. One soldier, who had received special leave from his unit to take part, described his experience to reporters: “For many of my comrades, I was the first LGBT person they had ever seen. It was as if they had met an alien.” After intensive discussions, a relaxed atmosphere developed.
Against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression, the demonstrators called on the government, among other things, to legally recognize same-sex partnerships. Due to the lack of legal regulations, partners of LGBTQ soldiers injured or killed in the war are currently not informed.
It was the first Pride march for LGBT rights there since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Due to the current martial law, permits for demonstrations are more difficult to obtain. The first LGBT demonstration took place in 2013, according to “Spiegel”. There were regular Pride parades between 2015 and 2021.
Moment of shock at the football festival: Police officers shot down an armed attacker on Hamburg’s Reeperbahn. The situation is secure, the background is still unclear.
Stephanie was on holiday with her family in Spain. Shortly before her return flight she was shocked: she urgently needed brain surgery.
