Three men have been arrested in connection with the crime, including one former classmate of the victim’s and one man who said he had watched as others beat the man to death. Federal investigators released a statement saying the crime began when a group of men who were drinking beer on Thursday in a park to commemorate the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 heard the victim say he was gay. The suspects “cruelly beat the victim,” and he “died on the spot,” investigators said.
NTV, a Russian television channel, reported that the man’s face had been so badly damaged that the police initially could not identify him. The crime’s unusual savagery made it national news in Russia. On two occasions, rights advocates who demonstrated against the bill were assaulted or pelted with eggs as police officers looked on.Ĭritics of the government said Russian politicians had promoted homophobia in recent months, as part of a broad rejection of liberal influences that are seen as emanating from the West.Įarly this year, by a vote of 388 to 1, Russian lawmakers approved a bill outlawing “homosexual propaganda,” with fines of up to $16,000 for violations. Putin has said Russia may curtail adoptions of Russian children by people from Western countries where same-sex marriage is legal.
