In response to a formal question tabled by London Green Party member Darren Johnson AM, Boris Johnson has revealed that he is not considering ending the ‘twinned cities’ link between London and Moscow in spite of the ‘abuse of LGBT people’ that the Mayor acknowledges is taking place in Russia’s capital and throughout the country.
Darren Johnson had called on the Mayor to end London’s symbolic link with the Russian capital unless what is widely perceived to be discrimination and hostility perpetuated by the Russian government towards gay people there has ceased. However, the Mayor has stated that he is not considering this option.
Darren Johnson AM said:
“While I agree we need to challenge prejudice with engagement we should not simply hand Moscow a blank cheque and the Mayor should be warning Moscow that the twinning arrangement would be under threat if the scapegoating and persecution of LGBT people continues.”