by Rex Wockner
After initially giving a verbal OK, city officials in Tambov, Russia reversed course and officially blocked the city's first planned gay demonstrations Oct. 9.
City Hall decided the city's residents did not approve of the events (a demonstration and a march), that police couldn't secure them and that they would cause traffic troubles.
Moscow activist Nikolai Alekseev, who was involved in planning the actions, said the decision violates the Russian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, and that organizers will pursue legal redress.
Earlier this year, Tambov Mayor Oleg Betin reportedly said: "Tolerance? To hell! Faggots should be torn apart and their pieces thrown to the wind."
Tambov is about 300 miles (500 km) southeast of Moscow and has a population of about 292,000.
