Former Russian Parliament member Alexander Chuev, who asked the General Prosecuter to investigate Pride organizer Nikolai Alekseev after he outed Chuev on national television
December 27, 2007
Moscow gay Pride organizer Nikolai Alekseev will soon face charges of slander and insult for allegedly outing former parliament member Alexander Chuev on live national television, reports the U.K. Gay News.
Speaking on the NTV channel's talk show K Baryeru! on June 21, Alekseev reportedly called the state Duma deputy a "gay, coward and hypocrite." It was the first outing of a gay politician in Russia.
Six days later, Chuev sent a complaint to the General Prosecution department questioning whether Alekseev breached articles 129 (slander), 130 (insult), and 282 (incitement of hatred) of the Russian Criminal Code. The case was transferred to Moscow prosecution, which began a criminal investigation on July 31.
The criminal case against the Moscow Pride organizer is expected to arrive in court shortly. The court will have to give the final verdict whether Alekseev committed any crime under Russian law.
According to U.K. Gay News, Alekseev recently said, "The criminal case against me was conducted with multiple breaches of legislation and the investigators failed to find any prove of my guilt. Until the court hearing, I have no right to disclose the details of the case and the proof that is [to be] used against me. But during the court process, many details will become known."
Speaking on the NTV channel's talk show K Baryeru! on June 21, Alekseev reportedly called the state Duma deputy a "gay, coward and hypocrite." It was the first outing of a gay politician in Russia.
Six days later, Chuev sent a complaint to the General Prosecution department questioning whether Alekseev breached articles 129 (slander), 130 (insult), and 282 (incitement of hatred) of the Russian Criminal Code. The case was transferred to Moscow prosecution, which began a criminal investigation on July 31.
The criminal case against the Moscow Pride organizer is expected to arrive in court shortly. The court will have to give the final verdict whether Alekseev committed any crime under Russian law.
According to U.K. Gay News, Alekseev recently said, "The criminal case against me was conducted with multiple breaches of legislation and the investigators failed to find any prove of my guilt. Until the court hearing, I have no right to disclose the details of the case and the proof that is [to be] used against me. But during the court process, many details will become known."
Alekseev added that he believes the court has no other choice but to find him innocent, "though in the current condition of pressure from authorities I can not exclude that the decision of the court will not be fair, which is not any more a surprise to us. In any case, we are ready to lead this case up to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg."
Regardless of the outcome, the Pride organizer feels the end justified the means: "We reached the main goal of defeating Mr. Chuev in Duma elections in December."
Chuev failed to get 7 percent of votes for his Fair Russia party in the Khabarovsk region. As of Christmas Eve, he is no longer a deputy of the Duma.
Regardless of the outcome, the Pride organizer feels the end justified the means: "We reached the main goal of defeating Mr. Chuev in Duma elections in December."
Chuev failed to get 7 percent of votes for his Fair Russia party in the Khabarovsk region. As of Christmas Eve, he is no longer a deputy of the Duma.
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