Gay Russian Activists Concerned About Crimean Conquest

Gay-rights activists in Russia have expressed concern about provocative comments by a senior official in the de facto government of Crimea, the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula that was annexed by Russia in March.

Sergei Aksyonov, the de facto prime minister of Crimea, on September 2 said "we in Crimea do not need such people," referring to gays and other sexual minorities. 

In addition, he said, if activists try to demonstrate in the region "our police and self-defense forces will react immediately and in three minutes will explain to them what kind of sexual orientation they should stick to."