Police arrested several gay activists who unfurled protest banners picketing the 2014 Sochi Olympics organising committee headquarters in the Russian capital Moscow on Wednesday (September 25).

Some activists said before being detained that their goal was to protest against gay rights violations in Russia ahead of the upcoming Sochi Olympics.

Russian gay leader Nikolai Alexeyev was detained immediately as he appeared outside the Olympics organising committee building towards the end of the protest action.

Russian authorities have said several times before that Russia would be able to guarantee safety of athletes and spectators at the Sochi Olympics in 2014 and that there would be no discrimination on sexual, racial or political basis.

However recent Russian government's decisions regarding gay rights in Russia have raised concern world-wide.

In June of this year Russia, which hosts the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, passed a controversial anti-gay propaganda law.

Critics of the law have said it effectively bans all gay rights rallies and could be used to prosecute anyone voicing support for homosexuals. President Vladimir Putin also banned same-sex couples from adopting children.

The ban has led some to call for a boycott of the Sochi Games.

Presented by Adam Justice

Read more: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/russia-anti-gay-elton-john-performance-ban-508928