MOSCOW — Pop icon Madonna is being sued for more than $10 million by a group of anti-gay Russian activists who claimed they were offended by her support for gay rights during a recent concert in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Russian news agencies quoted Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing nine activists, as saying the suit was filed Friday against Madonna, the organizer of her concert, and the hall where it was held, seeking damages totaling 333 million rubles, or nearly $10.5 million.
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, reported RIA Novosti.
Anti-gay sentiment runs high in Russia.
In St. Petersburg, a law passed in February and which came into force on March 30, makes it a crime to disseminate “gay propaganda” or “promote” homosexuality to minors.
Anti-gay Russian activists pointed to the presence of children as young as 12 at Madonna’s concert on Aug. 9.
The lawsuit comes just two days after Madonna angered conservative Russians with her support for the punk band Pussy Riot — three of the band’s members were sentenced Friday to two years in prison for a protest inside a Moscow cathedral.
After the verdict was issued, Madonna called on “all those who love freedom to condemn this unjust punishment.”
St. Petersburg is one of four regions in Russia to criminalize the dissemination of “gay propaganda” — the others are the Ryazan, Arkhangelsk and Kostroma regions.
Supporters of the ordinance say the law is necessary in order to promote traditional Russian values.
In March, Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party introduced a bill in the country’s parliament, the Duma, which would impose the ban at the national level.
Filed under: Europe
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I can’t even hold mu laughter.
she will not pay.
Lol. Seriously.
HA
Good luck, haha.
ha. ain’t even news.
Am I going to get sued for living?
hilarious
Tough shit….the russians need to get over it.
haha i love how they can sue her! but we cant sue the Country of Russia for being Stupid! Our laws forbid Communist actions so lets all Sue Russia!
I thought this was an article on the Onion at first haha.
Write them a check Madge. On the memo line notate the words ‘Fuck you’ and ‘Ignorant Neanderthal’.
Does this mean the LGBT community can sue them for supporting heterosexuality?
What is with Russia lately? Those people are seriously wayyy too delusional. -_-
Fuck them, ridiculous homophobes. She is not promoting it, she’s aknowledging and accepting it. She should tell them to kiss her ass!
So I can sue my country and state for pushing their heterosexual agenda on me all my life? Can I sue the media for forcing the heterosexual lifestyle on me as a child, for making me feel different, bad, sick, depressed or suicidal?
anywayRussian people go back 200 years…..:(
Support LOVE. Who cares what gender, colour, age, size, political party, etc. LOVE IS LOVE. <3
Love you Emily!! brilliant just brilliant.
That story just had me laughing.. truly amazingly ridiculous!
Me thinks that Putin, the puppetmaster behind this, protests too much: what is his story behind the topless shots and derring-do feats, BTW?
Russia, how United States Conservative of you.
damn when will this world get out of the stone ages and stop making such a big deal about who someone choose to love i am just beyond tired of seeing this sort of thing, really pissing me off.
Wacked !
Freedom for Pussy Riot
Fuk a dam russian yo. An fuk u anti gay bitches..
Madonna destroy them!
You know, I think she will pay, because she can. I then see her taking an equal amount and devoting it to pro-equality groups within Russia and around Europe. Stuff of fantasy, maybe, but just imagine….
I dont like Madonna, but this makes me mad
Wow.. They don’t stand even stand a chance
They obviously won’t win.
I’m going to look into this more and see who I can email to see if there is anything that my organization can do to stop this from happening. No matter what all country’s in the world should accept all human rights no matter their beliefs, because Human Rights are for everybody and not for a certain group of people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeXQBHLIPcw
that’s sad hope madonna fights back
mdna is going broke. her daughter LOLA will be very richer…..
Are you kidding me,So can i sue this Russian activist cause there stupidity is offending me…………………….
If they win, how would they collect it? Ask for extradition to Russia and put her in prison?
crazy
So stupid.
Can I sue them back for offensive idiocy?
Omg.. These pppl are mutts !!
Don’t give them shit Madonna!!!
STFU
Screw the ones who are trying to Sue Madonna! Madonna has the Right to Speak the Truth! FREEDOM OF SPEACH! I’m all for Madonna Speaking how she feels! If they don’t like it, then they can F*** themselves. All it is, Is they want her Money.. I hope Madonna Fights Back! She didn’t do anything Wrong! The Problem is to many Straight People butting into our Gay people lives, They don’t live our lives, So who’s business is it of there’s how us Gays live Ours!! I SUPPORT QUEEN MADONNA!!
Oh, please, really?
If Russia has a film studio, it must be called 16th Century Fox. Seriously people, join the real world.
Are you FRICKIN kidding me??? REALLY??? Sounds like they just need more money to promote thier BIGOTRY!!!! Dont let them win Madonna!!!
That is their probllem…..
WOW
should have nuked those fuckers when we had the chance
Madonna can say whatever she want.Don’t let them win, Madge! Russian people are so stupid!
Those aren’t Russian activists. They’re Russian mercenaries. And what do you want to bet Ms. Putin is behind it?
i was just telling a friend , i think we’ll lose marrige rights in nov. (wa. state) because the orthaodox russians and evangelicals hate us and they vote.