Human rights and LGBT+ campaigner Peter Tatchell has been released following his arrest this morning close to the Kremlin in Moscow during his one man peaceful protest about the treatment of LGBT+ people in Russia.
MR TATCHELL received consular assistance during his detention spending one hour and 40 minutes in police custody, from the moment he was detained near the Kremlin to the moment of his release from the police station.
He is required to appear in court in Moscow on June 26 charged with violating Federal Law 54 and Presidential Decree 202, which prohibit all protests near the Kremlin during the World Cup.
Speaking from Moscow this afternoon, Mr Tatchell said: “I have written a letter to the Chief of Police of Kitay-Gorod police district, requesting that my court appearance is voided on the grounds that I am flying back to the UK on June 18. I have been told I will be free to leave Russia on that date as planned.
“Senior officers were stern but the apprehending officer very helpful, friendly and polite. I presume I was well treated, partly because I am a UK citizen and because a senior British Embassy consular official, Colin Wells, contacted the police. I guess the Russians also did not want to be seen as being heavy-handed during the World Cup.”
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