Tallinn - The fourth gay pride parade in Estonia's capital took place without any significant incidents on Saturday despite the presence of opponents. "The parade is a litmus test on how serious we are about human rights in a united Europe," a member of the European Parliament, Sophie in't Veld, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, ahead of the parade.
About 300 people gathered to show off their pride under sunny skies in the streets of Tallinn's Old City, clapping, making noise, cheering. They walked along the planned route protected by private security and extra police officers on the streets.
Halfway down the route, an alternative procession formed with a dozen of mostly Russian-speaking men, women and children chanting "No Pride" as they followed the parade, separated by just one security officer. Several Estonian skinheads later joined them.
Thousands of locals and tourists watched.
Last year's parade turned violent for the first time in the event's four-year history when around two dozen Estonian skinheads wielding stones and sticks left several marchers injured, including at least one man with head wounds.
A retired woman, who declined to give her name, told
