Russian gays cancel protest during Obama visit

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian gay activists said on Monday they had called off, due to safety concerns, a demonstration outside the U.S. embassy planned for Tuesday during U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow.

Moscow city officials last week banned the protest in favor of same-sex marriages. Activists, though, said they would protest anyway, running the risk of clashes with police.

But Monday Nikolai Alexeyev, one of their leaders, said they had canceled the protest.

"In the context of another unlawful ban by the authorities on a public event as well as the special measures taken in the Russian capital during the visit by U.S. President Barack Obama, we have decided to cancel the event due to concerns over the safety of our members," he said in a statement.

Obama flew into Moscow for talks at the Kremlin Monday and will leave early Wednesday.

City authorities said last week they had refused a request by gay activists to protest because they said another group had already booked the area in front of the U.S. embassy and that most Muscovites were against the demonstration.

Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993 but tolerance is not widespread and Moscow's authorities often ban pro-gay protests.

(Writing by James Kilner; Editing by Richard Balmforth)