Police detained 18 people during an LGBT march in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-most populous city.
This was reported by European Pravda, citing Delfi.
For the first time in the history of Kaunas, a march of representatives of sexual minorities Kaunas Pride took place. The organizers said it was not a celebration of the community, but a peaceful protest aimed at drawing attention to the problems of minorities.
The march aroused great public resistance, and Kaunas municipality also opposed it.
Fearing possible provocations and disturbances, Kaunas Pride participants were guarded by police squads.
After 3 p.m., when the march was over, the incident became known. According to preliminary data, a group of guys attacked a group of girls and guys. One guy was thrown eggs, fireworks were thrown into the hood of another, and an LGBT flag was taken. At least two people required medical attention.
As of 4 p.m., 18 people had been taken to the police station.
Given the tension in the city and the threat of attacks, participants in the march were not recommended carrying LGBT paraphernalia and posters openly but were urged to take them out only during the event and hide them after it was over.
According to the newspaper journalists, drunken people began gathering at the event site in the morning. Police officers immediately stopped them.
