Russian police have detained several gay rights activists for attempting to stage an unauthorized pride rally in central Moscow.
Police officers seized the activists -- one of whom tried to unfurl a rainbow flag -- and loaded them into waiting vans as around 30 nationalist counterdemonstrators in camouflage hurled eggs at the activists.
Several Orthodox counterdemonstrators were also detained by police as a large crowd of Russian and international journalists looked on.
Police was quoted as saying at least 16 people were detained at the event.
Gay rights activists insisted on holding the event on May 30 despite a court in Moscow banning it.
Gays in Russia face regular harassment and requests to hold pride parades have been consistently rejected by authorities in the capital.
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