67 Detained in Russian Gay Rights Protest Violence

Photo by EPA/BGNES from arrests during January's gay rights protests in Moscow.

Russian police have arrested 67 people after violence broke out during a gay rights protest.

The disturbance in central St. Petersburg began after a group of around 15 gay rights activists tried to hold a demonstration to mark International Coming Out Day, reports The Globe and Mail.

The activists were heavily outnumbered by anti-gay demonstrators, as they clashed. The arrested include people from both sides.

Earlier this year, Russia passed a controversial ban on “gay propaganda” among minors. Various international organizations have criticized the law as an infringement of LGBT rights.