Rostov-on-Don: NGO leader reports discrediting attempts

Press releases were disseminated among local media in this city on behalf of the regional branch of the All-Russian NGO named "Young Europe". The letters recommended "informing children in educational establishments about persons of non-traditional sexual orientation."

The head of the branch Konstantin Baranov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that it was an attempt to discredit him personally and his organization. According to his story, recently his branch began supporting the regional group named "Iridescent Syndrome", which stands against discrimination of gays and lesbians and holds public actions on the topic.

Konstantin said that recently a press release was sent out on behalf of the "Young Europe", release according to which the "Young Europe-Rostov" and the "Iridescent Syndrome" were starting a new project. According to Mr Baranov, this press release can "provoke a rather negative reaction of the population" since it contains "strange formulations about propaganda of non-traditional relations in educational establishments."

He treats the episode with this faked press release, dispatched on behalf of the "Young Europe", as an attempt to discredit his organization and notes that after the episode even those journalists who cooperated with the branch can give up the contacts.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported that last summer Konstantin Baranov, head of the regional branch of the All-Russian Organization "Young Europe", based in Rostov-on-Don, after he had addressed the prosecutor's office, began receiving telephone calls and E-mails, containing threats. The web page of the "Young Europe" in a social network "In Contact" was subjected to a spam attacked organized by right-wing radicals.

Baranov believes that it was a consequence of his address to the local prosecutor's office with a demand to react to performances of a number of nationalist rock groups openly concerting in the city.