The invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying political crackdown came as an end for many LGBT Russian artists but helped by a Paris charity, they have found a new home in France, as reported by AFP. 
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Alexei, a 23-year-old composer, used to believe that he could ride out President Vladimir Putin's regime, but watching his friends being arrested or fleeing the country in the wake of the war, he felt he had been naive.&nbsp; 
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"The war caused me pain, shame and guilt -- you tell yourself that you haven't done enough against this regime," Alexei, who did not want to give his full name, told AFP.&nbsp; 
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He knew he had made the right decision to leave when he heard that police had visited the St Petersburg music school where he was a teacher, accusing it of promoting "LGBT propaganda" over a photo of Alexei kissing his boyfriend on its Facebook page. 
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He came to Paris with the help of a support group, the Agency of Artists in Exile, and was joined by his boyfriend soon after.&nbsp; 
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The agency set up a hotline for artists from both Ukraine and Russia following the invasion and has helped around 100 artists from the two countries, providing them with studio space, as well as help with visas, language training and psychological support.&nbsp; 
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As he plays Rachmaninov -- a Russian composer -- in one of the agency's practice rooms, Alexei says he is relieved but daunted.&nbsp; 
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"Here, I have some freedom," he said. "I just don't know what to do with that freedom."

Also Read:&nbsp;In Pics:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-has-the-indian-startup-party-halted-recent-layoffs-leave-thousands-unemployed-493180"> Has the Indian startup party halted? Recent layoffs leave thousands unemployed</a> 
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Gena Marvin, 23, arrived in late April.&nbsp; 
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Back in Moscow, the transgender artist was working on "trash art", using discarded items to create costumes and sculptures, as well as performances such as wrapping her body in a tape that evoke "a country where there is no freedom and where the freedom of my body was not permitted".&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Still listed as male on her official documents, Marvin was terrified of being called up to fight in Ukraine, and decided to leave after being arrested at an anti-war demonstration.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
"I don't feel the same fear in France, but I am still on edge because once you've been accustomed to fear, you never totally lose it," she said, as reported by AFP. 
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(with inputs from agencies) 
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The invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying political crackdown came as an end for many LGBT Russian artists but helped by a Paris charity, they have found a new home in France, as reported by AFP.

The invasion of Ukraine and the accompanying political crackdown came as an end for many LGBT Russian artists but helped by a Paris charity, they have found a new home in France, as reported by AFP. Alexei, a 23-year-old composer, used to believe that he could ride out President Vladimir Putin's regime, but watching his friends being arrested or fleeing the country in the wake of the war, he felt he had been naive. "The war caused me pain, shame and guilt -- you tell yourself that you haven't done enough against this regime," Alexei, who did not want to give his full name, told AFP. He knew he had made the right decision to leave when he heard that police had visited the St Petersburg music school where he was a teacher, accusing it of promoting "LGBT propaganda" over a photo of Alexei kissing his boyfriend on its Facebook page. He came to Paris with the help of a support group, the Agency of Artists in Exile, and was joined by his boyfriend soon after. The agency set up a hotline for artists from both Ukraine and Russia following the invasion and has helped around 100 artists from the two countries, providing them with studio space, as well as help with visas, language training and psychological support. As he plays Rachmaninov -- a Russian composer -- in one of the agency's practice rooms, Alexei says he is relieved but daunted. "Here, I have some freedom," he said. "I just don't know what to do with that freedom." Also Read: In Pics: Has the Indian startup party halted? Recent layoffs leave thousands unemployed Gena Marvin, 23, arrived in late April. Back in Moscow, the transgender artist was working on "trash art", using discarded items to create costumes and sculptures, as well as performances such as wrapping her body in a tape that evoke "a country where there is no freedom and where the freedom of my body was not permitted". Still listed as male on her official documents, Marvin was terrified of being called up to fight in Ukraine, and decided to leave after being arrested at an anti-war demonstration. "I don't feel the same fear in France, but I am still on edge because once you've been accustomed to fear, you never totally lose it," she said, as reported by AFP. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russian LGBTQ artists, threatened by Russia-Ukraine war, find new home in France

Turkiye police on Sunday detained more than 150 demonstrators in a Pride march in Istanbul, as reported by AFP. The governor's office had banned the march around Taksim Square in the heart of Istanbul but protesters gathered nearby under heavy police presence earlier than scheduled. &nbsp;

"All those detained solely for their participation in Pride must be released immediately and unconditionally," Milena Buyum of Amnesty International said.&nbsp;

Police detained protesters, loading them into buses. Kilic, who was also detained last year during the Pride march, was in police custody.&nbsp;

Hundreds of protesters carrying rainbow flags pressed ahead with the rally in defiance of the police.&nbsp;

"The future is queer," they chanted. "We are here. We are queer. We are not going anywhere."

Police prevented the press from filming the arrests, according to AFP journalists.&nbsp;

Although homosexuality has been legal throughout the period of the modern Turkish republic, LGBTQ individuals point to regular harassment and abuse.

Diren, a 22-year-old university student, condemned the hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-announced-600-billion-global-infrastructure-plan-to-rival-chinas-bri-492064">G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI</a>

"We are banned, prevented, discriminated and even killed at every second of our lives. Today, it's a very special day for us to defend our rights and to say that we do exist," Diren told AFP.&nbsp;

Istanbul Pride had taken place every year since 2003. The last march which went ahead without a ban was in 2014 and drew tens of thousands of participants in one of the biggest LGBTQ events in the majority Muslim region.

In 2020, streaming giant Netflix cancelled the production of a series in Turkiye featuring a gay character after failing to obtain government permission for the filming. The same year, French sports brand Decathlon faced boycott calls in Turkiye for posting messages of support for LGBTQ people.

(with inputs from agencies) 
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Turkiye police on Sunday detained more than 150 demonstrators in a Pride march in Istanbul, as reported by AFP. The governor's office had banned the march around Taksim Square in the heart of Istanbul but protesters gathered nearby under heavy police presence earlier than scheduled.

Turkiye police on Sunday detained more than 150 demonstrators in a Pride march in Istanbul, as reported by AFP. The governor's office had banned the march around Taksim Square in the heart of Istanbul but protesters gathered nearby under heavy police presence earlier than scheduled. "All those detained solely for their participation in Pride must be released immediately and unconditionally," Milena Buyum of Amnesty International said. Police detained protesters, loading them into buses. Kilic, who was also detained last year during the Pride march, was in police custody. Hundreds of protesters carrying rainbow flags pressed ahead with the rally in defiance of the police. "The future is queer," they chanted. "We are here. We are queer. We are not going anywhere." Police prevented the press from filming the arrests, according to AFP journalists. Although homosexuality has been legal throughout the period of the modern Turkish republic, LGBTQ individuals point to regular harassment and abuse. Diren, a 22-year-old university student, condemned the hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people. Also Read: G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI "We are banned, prevented, discriminated and even killed at every second of our lives. Today, it's a very special day for us to defend our rights and to say that we do exist," Diren told AFP. Istanbul Pride had taken place every year since 2003. The last march which went ahead without a ban was in 2014 and drew tens of thousands of participants in one of the biggest LGBTQ events in the majority Muslim region. In 2020, streaming giant Netflix cancelled the production of a series in Turkiye featuring a gay character after failing to obtain government permission for the filming. The same year, French sports brand Decathlon faced boycott calls in Turkiye for posting messages of support for LGBTQ people. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkiye police detain pride march demonstrators in Istanbul

The creator of Harry Potter JK Rowling is facing steep criticism over her remarks on transgender people. There was worldwide outrage over Ms. Rowling's comments over the weekend on an article that used the phrase "those who menstruate". Watch report.

WION Dispatch | Rowling's anti-trans tweet spark outrage | Offends LGBTQI community