Gay march ban ignites criticism

France (AP):

The European Court of Human Rights condemned Russia yesterday for letting Moscow ban gay pride marches simply because the city's then-mayor, who famously compared gays to the devil, and other officials disapproved of them.

The binding ruling means that Russia must ensure gay parades are freely held in its cities, and requires the country to pay organisers of gay pride events €29,510 ($41,300) for damages and court costs stemming from bans from 2006 to 2008.

The court is an arm of the Council of Europe, the continent's premier human rights watchdog, and Russia is a member.