GAY PRIDE PROTESTS IN MOSCOW

That this House is concerned at reports that a gay pride rally in Moscow was violently ended by police officers; notes that the protest had been banned by city authorities on the grounds of preventing `moral degradation'; recognises the right to protest peacefully; further recognises that, whilst homosexuality is no longer illegal in Russia, there are no anti-discrimination or harassment laws to protect homosexual men or women; and calls on the Government to use its membership of the Council of Europe to press for an improvement to gay rights in Russia.