Brody's Notes... Russian LGBT Activist Nicolai Alexeysev Sues Russian Human Rights Activist Lyudmila Alexeyseva

Lyudmila Alexeyeva    Photo By Sky News UK

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) OCT 25 | The Russian News Agency Interfax is reporting today, that in an published interview with the Moscow Times, prominent Russian Human Rights Activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva, angrily acknowledged that she is named as defendant in a lawsuit brought by noted Russian LGBT Equality Rights Activist Nicolai Alexeyev. Ms.Alexeyeva, 83, is a veteran Soviet era Russian human rights champion and a winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize For Freedom Of Thought in 2009.
Ms. Alexeyeva who heads the Moscow Helsinki Group, had according to documents filed in court in the Russian capital, accused him referring to Nicolai Alexeyev, of lying often in an interview with Ekho Moskvy Radio on August 31st of this year.
Speaking to Moscow Times journalist Natalya Krainova, Alexeyeva, confirmed by telephone Friday that she had called Alexeyev a liar.

"As an example," she said, "Alexeyev had invited Alexei Mitrofanov, a former State Duma deputy with the Liberal Democratic Party and a gay rights supporter, against her wishes to a news conference supporting gay pride parades that she had provided the venue for several years ago." She said she had opposed Mitrofanov's participation because he had repeatedly spoken negatively about human rights activists in the past.

Nicolai Alexeyev  Photo By Interfax News Agency Moscow

Alexeyev, for his part, wants her to apologise, writing on his blog that he cannot be held responsible for the miscommunication as the news conference had been organised at his request by another prominent Russian Gay Equality rights activist, Alexei Davydov. He also wrote Davydov had assured him that Mitrofanov's participation would not damage relations with Alexeyeva or the Moscow Helsinki Group.
According to the Moscow Times' Krainova,  Ms. Alexeyeva grew upset while discussing the lawsuit.

"Who is this Alexeyev to be suing me?" she said, adding that the conflict was "not worth a farthing" and hung up.

Alexeyev acknowledged that since the interview, Alexeyeva's group has refused to participate with him or his organisation instead working through another Russian political opposition activist Sergei Konstantinov.