The Moscow City Court upheld a city ban on gay pride parades in the city on Monday, dismissing an extraordinary appeal by parade organizers challenging a ruling by the Tverskoy district court. Organizers say they are prepared to appeal to the Russian Supreme Court, and believe that the high court will be "more objective" in its decision. The parade is currently scheduled for May 27; a valid application for permission to hold the parade due two weeks in advance.

The parade organizers announced in February that they were considering filing a lawsuit against the Moscow city government with the European Court of Human Rights. In 2006 the parade was held despite a ban upheld by the Moscow Court and ended in violence when approximately 100 religious and nationalist extremists attacked [Washington Post report] the gay rights activists. Additionally, approximately 200 gay rights supporters were arrested for defying the ban. Another Moscow court ruled in August that bans on such parades are legal, citing safety concerns.