Watchdog

Officials in the northwestern Russian city of Arkhangelsk have banned a previously approved gay-rights rally.

The city's mayor's office told activists on February 24 that the previous decision to allow the rally on February 25 was reversed because officials did not know if the activists had agreed on the location of the rally.

Arkhangelsk authorities originally agreed to the gay-rights activists' request for the rally, but rejected their call for holding it at city hall, instead offering a place in a remote part of the city.

A group of some 20 activists had planned to raise issues related to the controversial federal law that bans the dissemination of materials promoting homosexuality among minors.

The rally's rejection is the second in recent days.

On February 20, Arkhangelsk officials banned a gay pride parade in the city on February 22 and banned four other public pro-gay events.

Based on reporting by gayrussia.ru and Novaya Gazeta

Jailed Belarusian activist Mikalay Dzyadok faces a new trial, starting on February 25, that could keep him behind bars for another year just as he was due for release.

The trial was to be held inside the prison in the eastern city of Mahileu where Dzyadok, an anarchist, is being held.

Dzyadok's 4 1/2 year prison term on a hooliganism conviction ends on March 3, but he has been charged violating prison rules and could have his term extended by up to one year if found guilty.

Dzyadok says he is innocent.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has recognized Dzyadok as a political prisoner.

With reporting by statkevich.org