- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Gay Propaganda Lawsuit Against Madonna Advances

© RIA Novosti . Ramil Sitdikov / Go to the mediabankMadonna
Madonna  - Sputnik International
Subscribe
A group of Russian activists resubmitted on Thursday lawsuits against U.S. pop diva Madonna and organizers of her St. Petersburg concert seeking $10.5 million in compensation for “moral damages,” a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Alexander Pochuyev, told RIA Novosti.

A group of Russian activists resubmitted on Thursday lawsuits against U.S. pop diva Madonna and organizers of her St. Petersburg concert seeking $10.5 million in compensation for “moral damages,” a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Alexander Pochuyev, told RIA Novosti.

The lawsuits, which cite violations of a controversial new local law banning "gay propaganda," were originally filed in mid-August, but the examining judge found a number of mistakes that needed correction.

The plaintiffs have since found Madonna’s official mailing address and other information needed to proceed with the case, Pochuyev said.

“These lawsuits are against Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, the concert’s organizers (PMI company) and the concert hall,” Pochuyev said in August.

He said a total of nine people filed the lawsuits demanding compensation for “moral damages” stemming from “the open promotion of homosexuality” during her August 9 concert in Russia’s second largest city.

“Some of these people attended the concert and others saw media reports,” the lawyer added.

A group of activists from the St. Petersburg-based civil group Parental Control earlier asked police to probe Madonna’s actions, claiming that the concert was attended by children as young as 12 and accusing the singer of violating a local law prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality among minors.

During her show at St. Peterburg’s largest concert hall, which was attended by 25,000 people, Madonna complained about “growing intolerance” in the world and called for solidarity with gays and lesbians. She had pink armbands distributed in the audience and asked her fans to raise their hands in a sign of support for homosexuals.

Madonna also spoke out in support of all-female group Pussy Riot. Three members of the band were sentenced to two years in jail earlier on Friday over a February protest in Moscow’s largest cathedral against Orthodox Church support for Vladimir Putin ahead of the March 4 presidential polls that returned him to the Kremlin for a third term.

St. Petersburg’s controversial law came into effect in March and has been strongly criticized by rights groups.

 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала