Front Line is concerned following reports that the Moscow authorities have banned a demonstration in support of tolerance and respect for rights and freedoms of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) community in the Russian Federation and Belarus, called 'Slavic Pride 2009'. This demonstration is organised by Project GayRussia, which was founded in May 2005 to fight against discrimination against Gays and Lesbians in Russia. Project GayRussia is the Russian coordinator of the International Day Against Homophobia, which takes place annually on 17 May.

The Slavic Gay Pride was scheduled to take place in Moscow on 16 May 2009, the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final. On 6 May 2009, the organisers notified the Moscow authorities, in accordance with legislation. The following day, they received an official letter prohibiting them from holding the demonstration due to the “impossibility to protect the demonstrators”. The other reason to ban the demonstration given in the letter was that the majority of Moscow citizens are against such a demonstration, but no specific research study was referenced in order to support this point. This is the fourth time that the Moscow authorities have banned a Gay Pride event. In the past, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov called Gay Pride “satanic” and said that he would never tolerate such a demonstration in Moscow. Since May 2006, Russian officials have prohibited 167 public events planned by the local LGBT community in Moscow and other cities across the Russian Federation. Marches in support of rights for sexual minorities in May 2006 and May 2007 have led to the beating of LGBT activists on the streets of Moscow. Seven cases are already pending at the European Court of Human Rights on this issue.

As previous demonstrations for LGBT rights in the Russian Federation have been attacked by religious groups and right-wing groups activists in the past, it is feared that the Slavic Pride 2009 may lead to clashes between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators. Front Line believes that the ban of the Gay Pride demonstration by the Russian authorities violates the Russian Federation Constitution and Articles 11 and 14 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which guarantee the right to freedom of assembly without discrimination on any grounds.