European Court of Human Rights has fined Russia for repeatedly refusing activists the right to hold gay pride marches.

The Moscow authorities claimed the parade would cause a violent reaction, but the court said Russia has discriminated against the gay community on grounds of sexual orientation.

Nikolai Alexeyev, the leading activist said it is a “crippling blow to Russian homophobia”. He also said he is planning to take the former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov to court.

Russia has been ordered to pay Alexeyev 29510 euros (25678 British Pounds) for legal fees and damages.