Leading Russian gay activist behind Moscow Pride dies

Alexey Davydov, 36, has died in hospital after a short life dedicated to LGBT rights

27 SEPTEMBER 2013 | BY TRIS REID-SMITH

One of Russia’s most prominent LGBT activists, Alexey Davydov, has died at just 36 years old after a prolonged illness.

Davydov passed away at 5.40am local time today (27 September) in the intensive care unit of a Moscow hospital.

Despite his illness, he had worked for LGBT rights to the end. He had been due to protest outside the Sochi Olympics headquarters in Moscow on Tuesday (24 September), a demonstration leading to the arrest of 10 activists.

From the town of Liski in the Voronezh Oblast region of west Russia, he became a leading activist, helping the Moscow Pride organization from 2007 onwards and co-founding the LGBT Rights group.

In July, he again protested Russia’s anti-gay ‘propaganda’ law in Red Square with a rainbow banner reading ‘Homophobia, the religion of trash’, causing his arrest.

And earlier this month he dressed as a doctor from a mental health hospital and offered to take away State Duma deputies for their anti-gay madness.

Gay Russia reports: ‘Despite the big health problems in recent years, Alexey continued his struggle to make Russia a free and democratic state. Alexey was not going to die, he had a lot of plans.

‘He always opened the door for new civic activism of young people, who quickly became the vanguard of the struggle for human rights in Russia.

‘But on Wednesday morning he was hospitalized. Rest in peace, our friend! We will never forget you! The kingdom of heaven to you!’

His LGBT activist friends are planning his funeral.