• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

Meet The Four Dutch Citizens Arrested Under Russia’s New Anti-Gay Law

July 23, 2013 by RJ Aguiar

Kris-van-der-veenNews spread quickly shortly after four Dutch citizens were the first foreign citizens to be arrested under Russia's anti-gay "propaganda" ban recently signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. Now, the Washington Blade is releasing some more details surrounding the event in question, as well as the individuals themselves. 

It was previously reported that the four were arrested at a summer camp in the city of Murmansk on Sunday. Said arrests took place during a human rights seminar, which included a local LGBT rights organization among others. The four dutch citizens were guests of the seminar and members of the Dutch advocacy group "LGBT Groningen". One of them, Kris van der Veen, president of the organization, was there to give a lecture, as was confirmed recently by the Blade.

The group also explained that the four members were also there to film a documentary on gay life in Russia. Local media reported them interviewing a 17-year-old gay teen before being taken into custody by local authorities. According to reports, the four were scheduled to appear in a Murmansk court on Monday, and were released after being fined 3,000 rubles, which equates to approximately $93 USD. Van der Veen wrote on his Facebook profile, shortly thereafter: "We are still in Murmansk…It is about the documentary, gay propaganda. It is good, but it’s still very vague what’s next." It is not yet known exactly when the four expect to return to the Netherlands. 

While van der Veen and company are the first foreign citizens to be arrested under the new anti-gay propaganda law, they are not the first to be arrested. 40 LGBT activists were previously arrested in St. Petersburg after a demonstration on June 29, and 30 were arrested on May 24 after protesters tried to stage a pride celebration outside of Moscow city hall. LGBT advocates from St. Petersburg are scheduled to go on trial this Thursday. 

Activists such as Harvey Fierstein have already referred to such acts as this as a "declaration of war on homosexuals". Many are subsequently calling for a boycott of the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympic games in Sochi. While the U.S. State Department and European Union have expressed their disapproval of all Russia's recent anti-gay legislation, it is still unclear whether any action will be taken. 

Filed Under: News, Russia, Vladimir Putin Tagged With: Law - Gay, LGBT, Law Enforcement, News, Russia, Sochi Olympics, the Netherlands, Vladimir Putin

Recent Posts

  • Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    2 hours ago
  • Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    4 hours ago
  • Lindsey Graham Says Impeaching Trump Post-Presidency is Wrong: ‘Why Don’t We Impeach George Washington? He Owned Slaves’ — WATCH

    Lindsey Graham Says Impeaching Trump Post-Presidency is Wrong: ‘Why Don’t We Impeach George Washington? He Owned Slaves’ — WATCH

    8 hours ago
  • This Heartwarming Viral Gay Doritos Ad Needs No Translation: WATCH

    This Heartwarming Viral Gay Doritos Ad Needs No Translation: WATCH

    8 hours ago
Previous Post: « LGBT Brazilians Give Pope A Gay Kiss-In: VIDEO
Next Post: Tumblr Apps Ban #Gay, #Lesbian, And #Bisexual Searches »

Primary Sidebar

  • Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

  • Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

  • Lindsey Graham Says Impeaching Trump Post-Presidency is Wrong: ‘Why Don’t We Impeach George Washington? He Owned Slaves’ — WATCH

Recent Posts

  • Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    Forbidden from Using Any of Jared and Ivanka’s 6 Bathrooms, Secret Service Spent $100K+ to Rent Toilet in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

    2 hours ago
  • Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    Rudy Giuliani, Ken Jones, FAA, Andy Murray, Brian Littrell, Andrew Yang, Harold Bornstein, Snapchat, Six Feet Under: HOT LINKS

    4 hours ago
  • Lindsey Graham Says Impeaching Trump Post-Presidency is Wrong: ‘Why Don’t We Impeach George Washington? He Owned Slaves’ — WATCH

    Lindsey Graham Says Impeaching Trump Post-Presidency is Wrong: ‘Why Don’t We Impeach George Washington? He Owned Slaves’ — WATCH

    8 hours ago
  • This Heartwarming Viral Gay Doritos Ad Needs No Translation: WATCH

    This Heartwarming Viral Gay Doritos Ad Needs No Translation: WATCH

    8 hours ago
  • Tilda Swinton: ‘I Always Felt I Was Queer … It’s My World’

    Tilda Swinton: ‘I Always Felt I Was Queer … It’s My World’

    9 hours ago
  • QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) Vows to File Impeachment Articles Against Joe Biden on His First Day in Office: WATCH

    QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) Vows to File Impeachment Articles Against Joe Biden on His First Day in Office: WATCH

    10 hours ago
  • Siegfried & Roy’s Siegfried Fischbacher Has Died at 81, Eight Months After Losing Roy Horn

    Siegfried & Roy’s Siegfried Fischbacher Has Died at 81, Eight Months After Losing Roy Horn

    10 hours ago
  • Lady Gaga to Sing National Anthem at Biden Inauguration

    Lady Gaga to Sing National Anthem at Biden Inauguration

    10 hours ago
  • Trump Issues Lie-Filled  Video Statement After He is Impeached for Second Time: WATCH

    Trump Issues Lie-Filled Video Statement After He is Impeached for Second Time: WATCH

    11 hours ago
  • Klete Keller, Eric Trump, Bobby Christine, Prince Harry’s Ponytail, Ellen’s COVID, Adam Newbold, Mo Brooks, Paul Gosar: HOT LINKS

    Klete Keller, Eric Trump, Bobby Christine, Prince Harry’s Ponytail, Ellen’s COVID, Adam Newbold, Mo Brooks, Paul Gosar: HOT LINKS

    1 day ago

Most Commented

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Log in