Watchdog

CHISINAU -- A protest march organized by Moldova's LGBT community on May 21 in the capital, Chisinau, was halted after just several hundred meters as police sought to avert a confrontation with participants in a counterprotest made up of "Orthodox priests and believers."

Scores of participants in the LGBT march, who were wearing white shirts with the logo of the No Fear social campaign, were evacuated in buses by police after eggs and water were thrown at them by those attenting the counterprotest.

The march had been called to protest what members of the LGBT community perceive as antigay legislation in Moldova.

Meanwhile, Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon, who has been critical of the LGBT community and its march, which he said contradicted "our traditional values," attended a separate counterrally in downtown Chisinau, called the Traditional Family Festival.

Dodon was accompanied by his children and was photographed with other children and parents.

On May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, 10 ambassadors to Moldova issued a joint statement voicing hope that the LGBT march would take place without incident.

The statement was signed by the envoys of the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Lithuania, and Estonia.

Some 1,000 people participated in a gay-pride march in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on May 20 to protest actions by lawmakers they say will restrict their rights.

U.S. Ambassador Hans Klemm and some 30 other ambassadors were among those expressing support for the marchers and calling for the protection of LGBT rights.

The march has been held the past 13 years in Romania, which decriminalized homosexuality in 2001.

This year’s protest focused on an initiative recently approved by lawmakers that could amend the constitution to state that marriage is a union between a man and woman.

Current wording states marriage is a union between "spouses."

The marchers observed a moment of silence as they passed the Russian Embassy to express solidarity with gays in Chechnya.

The European Parliament on May 18 called on the authorities in Chechnya to allow international human rights organizations to conduct “a credible investigation into the alleged crimes against men perceived to be gay” in the North Caucasus republic amid reports many have been detained and tortured.

In nearby Moldova, leaders of the LBGT community said they will hold a march in Chisinau on May 21 to protest what they perceive as antigay legislation.

Moldovan President Igor Dodon has criticized the march, saying the "actions contradict our traditional values."

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, dw.com, and Interfax