Watchdog

Several gay rights activists have been detained by police in St. Petersburg while trying to hold demonstrations on a Russian military holiday.

Police detained Yury Gavrikov, leader of an LGBT rights group, as he left his home to stage a one-man picket on August 2 in front of the Hermitage Museum on Paratroopers Day, when Russian airborne-forces veterans traditionally roam through public parks in their signature berets and striped T-shirts.

Police accused Gavrikov of cursing in public, a charge he denied. He was held at a police station while awaiting a court hearing.

Veterans of Russia's airborne forces confronted several other LGBT activists staging individual pickets near the museum, tearing up their posters and pulling rainbow-colored flags from their hands.

The activists were quickly taken away by police.

Russia has faced harsh criticism for its record on gay rights, including a vaguely worded law banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors.

Based on reporting by AP and Fontanka.ru

BAKU -- A high-ranking member of Azerbaijan's opposition Popular Front Party has been sent to jail.

The Baku Court for Serious Crimes found Asif Yusifli guilty of fraud and forgery on July 30 and sentenced him to 7 1/2 years in jail the same day.

Yusifli's co-defendant, Rafiq Huseynov, was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in jail on the same charges.

Yusifli, who was arrested in November, pleaded not guilty and called the case against him a retaliation by the authorities for his political and rights activities.

International and domestic human rights organizations, as well as EU and U.S. officials have expressed deep concern about Azerbaijan's crackdown on oppositionists, rights activists, and journalists in recent years.

Baku denies accusations saying there are no political prisoners in the country.