Washington, May 30 (AFP) The United States has voiced "concern" over the violent end to a gay rights rally in Moscow, and called on Russian authorities to better safeguard "fundamental freedoms" of assembly.
"We note with concern... that a peaceable demonstration of Russians advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians, joined by international supporters, was forcefully disrupted by counter-protesters, and that Russian security forces then detained people from both groups," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement, yesterday.
Russian security forces had also detained American citizens at the march, Toner noted.
"We call on Russian authorities to work with municipal officials to find better ways to safeguard these fundamental freedoms" that members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are committed to, Toner said.