[JURIST] The Moscow City Court upheld a city ban on gay pride parades [JURIST report] in the city on Monday, dismissing an extraordinary appeal by parade organizers challenging a ruling by the Tverskoy district court. Organizers say they are prepared to appeal to the Russian Supreme Court [official website, in Russian], and believe that the high court will be "more objective" in its decision. The parade is currently scheduled for May 27; a valid application for permission to hold the parade due two weeks in advance.

The parade organizers announced in February that they were considering filing a lawsuit against the Moscow city government [official website, in Russian] with the European Court of Human Rights [official website]. In 2006 the parade was held despite a ban upheld by the Moscow Court [JURIST report] and ended in violence when approximately 100 religious and nationalist extremists attacked [Washington Post report] the gay rights activists. Additionally, approximately 200 gay rights supporters were arrested for defying the ban. Another Moscow court ruled in August that bans on such parades are legal [JURIST report], citing safety concerns. MosNews has more. GayRussia.ru has local advocacy coverage.