13.03.2014
Regarding the Open Games
From February, 26 to March, 2 the first Russian Open LGBT games were held in Moscow. 330 athletes from 11 countries participated in this event, organized by the Federation of LGBT sport with the support of the Russian coalition of LGBT organizations. From the very first day the organizers and the participants encountered attempts to disrupt the Games. They faced pressure from the police forces, the Federal Migration Service and the Moscow authorities.
A day before the Games - on February, 25 - several sporting and cultural venues simultaneously pulled out from the leases, and hotels and hostels, which had all been booked in advance, refused to accommodate the guests. The opening of the Games, scheduled for February 26, was thwarted with a call about an alleged bomb threat. In addition to this, in place were also officially sent State Narcotics Control agents - to check the white powdered sugar, in which the fruits for the guests were coated. Every day of the Games the organizing committee faced unexpected closings and forced evacuations of the remaining sites, where the competitions were to be held. The sites whose owners refused to give in to unjustified pressure, encountered direct attempts to create dangerous situations for the tenants. Like at the football club, immediately after the arrival of the police officers, whom no one had called, someone blew up a smoke bomb.
The athletes who had come from other cities and countries, in addition to being denied due accommodation, were faced with the scrutiny of the immigration agency and police officers, and received groundless demands to leave the hostels and hotels where they were staying. Representatives of the administration of a number of hostels were very sympathetic and understanding towards the participants of the Games and were extremely bothered by the persistent interference with their work.
The first Russian Open LGBT Games have been held in spite of everything, and we congratulate the organizers, the participants and those who supported the event, on the fact that they survived a massive opposition of very influential forces. The goal of the Games was the promotion of a healthy life style, physical culture and sports among LGBT people and other citizens who support the idea of equality. We do not understand what threat such targets could pose to the state and society, and why the administration of Moscow assisted the opponents by providing them with significant public resources and power of police officers.
We are extremely concerned about the large-scale intervention in the work of business owners and human rights defenders during the Games. We find unacceptable for the state authorities to provide immense resources – man power, finances and time - to oppose legitimate human rights sports events. We invite fellow human rights defenders to react to what is happening. We encourage journalists to inform the public about the abuse of power, the unlawful expenditure of public resources and interfering with business and human rights. We will seek an official comment from the Moscow Government and we urge everyone to join us in this effort.
LGBT organization "Coming Out"
ISM "Russian LGBT Network"
LGBT Human Rights Film Festival "Side by Side"
LGBT organization " Rakurs "
Project “Out Loud”