MOSCOW (AP) — Some Russian activists
have sued Madonna for millions of dollars, claiming they were offended
by her support for gay rights during a recent concert in St. Petersburg.
Anti-gay sentiment is strong in Russia. In St. Petersburg,
a law passed in February makes it illegal to promote homosexuality to
minors, and the author of that law has pointed to the presence of
children as young as 12 at Madonna's concert on Aug. 9.
Russian news agencies quote Alexander Pochuyev,
a lawyer representing the nine activists, as saying the suit was filed
Friday against Madonna, the organizer of her concert, and the hall where
it was held, asking for damages totaling 333 million rubles, or nearly
$10.5 million.
Responding to
criticism that the plaintiffs were stuck in the Middle Ages, the lawyer
said they were using civilized, modern methods to defend their rights.
"No one is burning anyone at the stake or carrying out an Inquisition,"
Pochuyev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. "Modern civilization
requires tolerance and respect for different values."
The
complaint includes a video taken at the concert showing Madonna
stomping on an Orthodox cross and asking fans to raise their hands to
show the pink armbands in support of gays and lesbians that were
distributed among the audience, the new agency reported.
Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, did not immediately respond to emails asking for the singer's reaction to the lawsuit.
Madonna
also has angered conservative Russians with her support for Pussy Riot.
Three members of the punk band were sentenced Friday to two years in
prison for a protest inside Moscow's main cathedral against Vladimir Putin and his cozy relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church.
Madonna
spoke out in support of the group during her concert in St. Petersburg
and two days earlier in Moscow. After the verdict was issued, Madonna
called on "all those who love freedom to condemn this unjust
punishment."
source: AP
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