Madonna sued in Russia over gay rights

20 Aug 2012, 7:52 am   -   Source: AAP
Russian activists are suing pop star Madonna for supporting gay rights at a show in St Petersburg. (AAP)

Russian activists are suing pop star Madonna for supporting gay rights at a show in St Petersburg. (AAP)

Madonna is being sued for millions of dollars by Russian activists who say they were offended by her support for gay rights during a recent concert.

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Some Russian activists have sued Madonna for millions of dollars, claiming they were offended by her support for gay rights during a recent concert in St Petersburg.

Anti-gay sentiment is strong in Russia.

In St Petersburg, a law passed in February makes it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors, and the author of that law has pointed to the presence of children as young as 12 at Madonna's concert on August 9.

Russian news agencies quote Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing the nine activists, as saying the suit was filed on Friday against Madonna, the organiser of her concert and the hall where it was held, asking for damages totalling 333 million roubles (about $A10 million).

Responding to criticism the plaintiffs were stuck in the Middle Ages, the lawyer said they were using civilised, modern methods to defend their rights.

"No one is burning anyone at the stake or carrying out an Inquisition," Pochuyev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. "Modern civilisation requires tolerance and respect for different values."

The complaint includes a video taken at the concert showing Madonna stomping on an Orthodox cross and asking fans to raise their hands to show the pink armbands in support of gays and lesbians that were distributed among the audience, the news agency reported.

Madonna also has angered conservative Russians with her support for Pussy Riot. Three members of the punk band were sentenced on Friday to two years in prison for a protest inside Moscow's main cathedral against Vladimir Putin and his cosy relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Madonna spoke out in support of the group during her concert in St Petersburg and two days earlier in Moscow.

After the verdict was issued, Madonna called on "all those who love freedom to condemn this unjust punishment".

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