by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
The president of the Swedish national gay group RFSL, Soeren Juvas, was beaten up in Chisinau, Moldova, May 11.
He was stopped by police as he left a pub and asked if he was in town for the gay pride events and if he was gay. When he answered both questions in the affirmative, Juvas was taken to a police station, then later released.
As he left the station, Juvas was attacked by a group of men and suffered facial lacerations and bruises on his body.
"The men who attacked him were most likely police in civilian clothing or men who had been informed by the police that Soeren Juvas was going to be outside the police station at that time," said RFSL spokesperson Malinda Flodman.
"Many politicians and public figures in Sweden are upset about what has happened and this has raised the issue of LGBT rights in Central and Eastern Europe in the public debate in Sweden, and has increased pressure on the Swedish government to address the issue when we assume the presidency of the EU (European Union) this summer."
The Chisinau pride events included roundtable discussions, workshops, awards, concerts, parties and a "Miss Flawless Queen" pageant. Activists also laid flowers at a public monument dedicated to oppressed people.
GLBT people attended from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine, among other nations.
