By Martin Banks - 14th December 2011
We warmly welcome Ashton's assurance
Michael Cashman
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton says she plans to raise the issue of human rights with the Russian authorities.
Her pledge comes on the eve of Thursday's EU-Russia summit in Brussels and after she as presented with a petition with almost 250,000 signatures.
The petition urges the EU to support the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Russia.
Ashton, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, was presented with the petition along with MEPs Ulrike Lunacek and Michael Cashman in parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Afterwards, Cashman said, "It was extremely important to receive this petition together with Baroness Ashton."
"We warmly welcome Ashton's assurance that she will raise this issue directly with the Russian prime minister.
"The issue of equal rights for LGBT people and freedom of expression, as well as fair elections, is very dear to all Europeans - and Russians are Europeans too."
He said, "But we need to continue the fight, and stay mobilised with our friends in Russia until this homophobic bill is repealed."
His comments come in the wake of mass protests in Moscow at the weekend about the way recent parliamentary elections in Russia were conducted.
The legislative assembly of St Petersburg is currently examining a bill to outlaw any public mention of homosexuality or transgender issues.
The draft law also compares homosexuality to paedophilia.
On Wednesday, the European parliament was expected to adopt a resolution condemning the proposed law.
Similar laws are already in place in two Russian regions, and lawmakers in Moscow and at the federal level are also said to consider restricting freedom of expression.
MEPs in the LGBT intergroup have also sent a letter to the European Court of Human Rights, asking them to examine the case 'Bayev against Russia' as soon as possible.
This lawsuit asks the court whether banning public mentions of homosexuality is legal under the European Convention on Human Rights.
