Ukraine

SYDNEY — Several passengers on board a Malaysian jetliner shot down over Ukraine were heading to an international AIDS conference in Australia, officials said Friday. “A number of people” on board the Boeing 777 were en route to the southern Australian city of Melbourne to attend the 20th International AIDS conference, which starts Sunday…

BRUSSELS — New concerns regarding the safety and welfare of LGBTQ people in Ukraine were raised Monday by members of the European Union’s Parliament.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday froze the U.S. assets of seven Russian officials for their support of Crimea’s vote to secede from Ukraine, including those of Yelena Mizulina, the Russian Duma (Parliament) Deputy who authored the controversial anti-gay propaganda law last year.

HAVANA — The founder of the anti-gay Russian extremist group “Occupy Pedophilia” has fled Ukraine, where he was hiding to avoid arrest by Russian authorities for a series of criminal homophobic assaults against LGBTQ people, and is now believed by Russian law enforcement to be hiding in Cuba.

KIEV, Ukraine — At least 50 gay rights activists have marched peacefully in the country’s first gay rally despite a court ban and attempts to disrupt the event.

KIEV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian court on Thursday banned what would have been Ukraine’s first-ever gay pride demonstration, upholding a suit by city authorities, who argued the rally would disturb annual Kiev Day celebrations and could spark violence.