World Cup fever, gay rights abuses and war crimes - it´s an ugly mix
(The Guardian Russia)

I´m in Russia - but I´m not here for the football. Fifa has allowed the sport to legitimise Putin´s abnormal regime - and I´m here to protestI´m in Moscow trying to lie low and evade the Russian security service, the FSB. I´m exhausted from the stress. It´s my sixth time in the country; each time, I´ve visited in order to support LGBT+ campaigners who were attempting to hold a Pride parade and festival. On every occasion these were suppressed by the authorities, sometimes violently. I´ve been arrested twice and once been beaten almost unconscious.This time I´m here for the World Cup - but unlike thousands of fans, I won´t be cheering on this festival of football. LGBT+ people and many other Russians suffer state-sanctioned persecution and far-right violence. These abuses need to be challenged. Russia´s 2013 anti-gay law against `homosexual propaganda` has been used to suppress peaceful LGBT+ protests, sack LGBT+ teachers and suppress welfare organisations that support LGBT+ teenagers. Related: Robbie Williams `selling soul to dictator Putin` in World Cup gig Continue reading...