Nikolay Alexandrovich Alexeyev (also spelled as Alekseyev, Alekseev, or Alexeev () born 23 December 1977) is a Russian former LGBT rights activist, lawyer and journalist.
On 21 October 2010, Alexeyev won the first ever case at the European Court of Human Rights on LGBT human rights violations in Russia. The Strasbourg-based court unanimously ruled that by banning three Moscow Prides in 2006, 2007 and 2008, Russia breached three articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. In January 2011, the Russian Government asked the Court to refer the case for re-consideration to the Grand Chamber. On 11 April 2011, five judges panel of the European Court dismissed Russia's appeal and the verdict on illegality of Moscow Pride bans came into force the same day.
From 2005, Alexeyev was known as the founder and chief organizer of Moscow Pride, which was met with extreme official hostility until its final banning in 2012. Together with the activists of his advocacy group GayRussia.Ru, Alexeyev attempted to organize a large number of public actions to defend the rights of sexual minorities in Russia. For five years, none of the LGBT public actions for which he and his fellow activists required the permission of the Russian authorities was allowed to take place. On 1 October 2010, he was for the first time ever authorized to organize a sanctioned picketing in Moscow with the aim to call for economic boycott of Swiss International Air Lines due to its role in the arrest of Alexeyev at Moscow Domodedovo airport on 15 September 2010.
Following a series of antisemitic outbursts directed at western LGBT rights figures and institutions, Alexeyev permanently ended his activism in 2013. He was granted Swiss citizenship in 2016, and lives in Geneva with his husband.
Background
Born and raised in Moscow, in 1995, Alexeyev graduated from high-school with the advanced study of English language. In 2000, he graduated with honors from the Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in Public Administration (previously known as the Institute of Public Administration and Social Studies).
During his studies, Alexeyev became interested in the Constitutional Law in Russia. In the summers of 1996, 1997, and 1998, he worked as an intern in the Secretariat of the Russian Constitutional Court in Moscow. As an assistant to the judge, he prepared case materials and confinements for the decisions of the Court.
In 1998, being a third year student of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Alexeyev released his first book Citizen's Complaints to the Constitutional Court.
Between November 2000 to February 2001, he worked as a special correspondent for the Russian daily newspaper Sevodnya. The paper which belonged to Russian oligarch Vladimir Gusinsky was closed in April 2001 after state-owned Gazprom-Media took full control over it.
After graduating from the University, Alexeyev stayed at his department to continue postgraduate studies in constitutional, municipal and administrative law. In November 2001, he was forced to leave the Postgraduate Program of the Moscow State University, Department of Public Administration (Legal Fundamentals of State Regulation Department) due to the non-acceptance of his research of the legal status of sexual minorities as his thesis. This research was published in his 2002 book "Legal Regulation of the Status of Sexual Minorities: Russia in the Light of International Organisations' Practice and Legislation of Other Countries".
In June 2002, Alexeyev published his second book "Gay Marriage: Family Status of Same-Sex Couples in International, National and Local Law" which summarized legal situation in terms of the recognition of same-sex unions around the world.
Alexeyev appealed to Court against the University claiming he was victim of sexual orientation discrimination. On 10 June 2005, Moscow's Nikulinskiy District Court dismissed his claim. The decision was confirmed on appeal by Moscow City Court in September 2005. In May 2006, Alexeyev filed his first complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France which was registered under #9689/06. As of November 2010, the case was not considered by the Court and not communicated to Russian authorities.
In October 2002, Alexeyev authored a report titled "Curbing Prostitution: Western Experience and International Law" ordered by former State Duma Deputy Alexander Barannikov. The report was supposed to help the deputy's initiative to legalize prostitution in Russia. Finally, the deputy was in minority in his party and no bill was introduced in the Parliament.
In 2003, Alexeyev authored a comprehensive research dedicated to the history and contemporary reform of the upper chamber of British Parliament "House of Lords: From the Court of King Egbert to the Revolution of Prime Minister T. Blair (825-2003)".
In February 2005, Alexeyev decided to fully dedicate himself to activism for the rights of Russian LGBT people. On 17 May 2005, on the first International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), he launched Russian LGBT Human Rights Project Gayrussia.ru, an organization advocating LGBT rights in Moscow. The launch of the organization was marked by a press conference which was fully ignored by the media.
In an interview with In These Times, published on 30 November 2007, Alexeyev explained that he "realized it wouldn't be possible to change things in Russia just by writing" and that "he should be involved in more activist work and try to bring changes for LGBT rights." Gay activism became his full-time occupation.
Currently held positions Founder and Head of the Russian LGBT Human Rights Project GayRussia.Ru (since 17 May 2005) Founder and Chairman of Moscow Pride Organizing Committee (since foundation in July 2005) Vice President of the International Day Against Homophobia Committee since 2008 (previous position: Executive Secretary since creation of the organization in November 2005) Member of the Board and Regional Director for Eastern Europe of InterPride
Reputation and awards
Since 2005, Alexeyev earned his reputation in gay activism as a person who would not compromise on his ideals and who will not give up on his fights for LGBT rights in Russia and other countries. The leading French gay and lesbian magazine Tetu called him in March 2009 "l'activiste le plus acharné du continent" which could be translated into English as "the most stubbornly persistent activist on the continent" In December 2010 leading American gay magazine "The Advocate" called Alexeyev "the most visible crusader in his country".
In 2000, Alexeyev received the "Red Diploma" (Moscow) from the Faculty of Public Administration of the Lomonosov Moscow State University for excellent achievements in studies. The Red Diploma is awarded to the graduates with the best performance.
In 2006, together with the founder of the International Day Against Homophobia Louis-Georges Tin and co-organizers of Moscow Pride Nikolay Baev and Evgenia Debryanskaya, Alexeyev received the "ILGCN Grizzly Bear" (Moscow), "honouring outstanding and courageous efforts in the face of unusually fierce homophobia".
In 2006, Alexeyev also received GALHA Award (London), in recognition of "his courage in challenging homophobia in Russia and beyond".
On 17 June 2008, The Advocate called him a Global Pride Warrior together with three other activists from Nepal, Nigeria and Chile.
Also in 2008, Alexeyev received the HERO Award (Los Angeles), "for his attempts to stage full Prides". The award was presented during the Grand Finale of the Mr Gay International Competition in Los Angeles.
Also in 2008, Alexeyev received São Paulo's Citizen Award for Respecting Diversity São Paulo. It was presented by the Associação da Parada do Orgulho LGBT de São Paulo (APOGLBT).
On 14 May 2009, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty called Alexeyev "A Man of the week" after the organisation of the Slavic Pride during the "Eurovision Song Contest" final in Moscow.
In July 2010, Alexeyev received "A Hero Award" in international nomination presented by Vancouver Pride Society. On 1 August 2010, he was a grand marshal of Vancouver Gay Parade, heading the march in white navy uniform with the logo of Moscow Pride. The interview with Alexeyev was published by the leading Canadian LGBT newspaper Xtra.com. During his stay in Vancouver he also took part in two TV shows on local ShawTV explaining the situation for LGBT rights in Russia.
In December 2010, Romanian LGBT portal Angelicuss.com named Alexeyev as "A Man of the Year 2010". According to the publication, he is "one of the most respected human rights activist in the world and he is a model to us for his determination and self sacrifice. Nikolai is a symbol of dignity maintained against the waves of hatred which drown Russia".
Alexeyev is known to be a personal friend of German Bundestag member Volker Beck, British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, President of IDAHO Committee Louis-Georges Tin, writer and Oscar Wilde's grandson Merlin Holland. He was also a friend of Jacques Teyssier.
Media appearance
According to the leading Russian Internet search engine Yandex.Ru, Alexeyev is the most quoted gay activist in Russian media on LGBT issues. He takes part in various TV and radio programs in Russia and abroad.
He was twice invited to take part in the most watched talk show on Russian TV K baryeru! (NTV Russia Television) hosted by Vladimir Solovyov (journalist) for six years. The show took a form of a debate between two participants with the conductor acting as a referee and asking questions. The program was widely watched in Russia because it was broadcast during prime time throughout the country. It was last aired on 23 April 2009, after which the channel's administration took a decision to close the program.
"K baryeru" - Nikolay Alexeyev v. State Duma deputy Svetlana Goryacheva, was broadcast on 18 May 2006. The debate was initiated after the organizers for the first time notified Moscow Mayor about their intention to conduct a Gay Pride in Moscow.
"K baryeru" - Nikolay Alexeyev v. State Duma deputy Alexander Chuyev was broadcast on 21 June 2007. The debate was initiated after Orthodox youth movement "Georgievtsy" organized picketings of the gay cruising area in downtown Moscow.
During the second program Alexander Chuyev linked Alexeyev to oligarch Boris Berezovsky and called him an extremist. In the final round of the show a scandal started after Alexeyev called Alexander Chuyev "gay, coward and hypocrite". A week later, at the request of the deputy, criminal investigation was started against the activist. After a private peaceful agreement between the parties Alexender Chuyev asked the judge to dismiss the charges and close the case. Alexeyev also tried to prosecute Alexander Chuyev on the basis of the very same talk show but he was denied by the prosecution department.
On 2 December 2007, Alexander Chuyev, who in 2007 initiated a bill in the State Duma to criminalize "propaganda of homosexuality", was not re-elected during the parliamentary elections. On 5 December 2007, he admitted in the interview that the reason for his defeat was his homophobia. His bill to re-criminalize homosexuality was only rejected by the State Duma on 8 May 2009, on the eve of the 1st Slavic Pride in Moscow.
In June 2007, after the second Moscow Pride, NTV channel featured Alexeyev in its program "Glavnyi geroi".