Protests Held At Russian Embassy

A group of protestors assembled in front of the Russian embassy in Reykjavík today to protest the country’s treatment of its LGBT community.

In a statement from the protestors, Vísir reports, they say the purpose of the protest is “to encourage love instead of hate, and the protestors did this by kissing and hugging in front of the embassy, as well as by blowing kisses at the Russian ambassador.”

Gunnlaugur Bragi Björnsson, the chairperson of the Reykjavík Queer Choir, addressed the crowd saying, “Today is the day to say ‘I love you’. Because there’s a reason why we’re standing in front of the embassy of one of the countries which makes distinctions of love.” He concluded his speech by sending greetings of love from Iceland to Russia, in Russian.

This is not the first time protestors gathered at the Russian embassy – in 2012, protestors assembled there in response to the arrest of some members of Pussy Riot, resulting in the Russian flag being taken down by protestors, and one arrest. Last year, Reykjavík mayor Jón Gnarr proposed cutting ties with Moscow over anti-LGBT legislation in Russia.