Russia's gay rights problem

Former paratroopers scuffle with gay rights activist Kirill Kalugin, right, in St.Petersburg, Russia, Aug. 2, 2013.

Kalugin stood protesting against gay rights violations at Palace square where paratroopers celebrated Paratroopers' Day.

Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, but homophobia remains strong. Gay rights activism has heated up in Russia in recent months, after new laws were passed banning so-called "gay propaganda," with some groups calling for a boycott of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi.

Former paratroopers scuffle with gay rights activist Kirill Kalugin in St. Petersburg, Russia, Aug. 2, 2013.

Former paratroopers scuffle with gay rights activist Kirill Kalugin, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Aug. 2, 2013.

Gay rights activists take part in a gay pride event in Saint Petersburg, June 29, 2013.

Russian police arrested dozens of people on after clashes erupted between pro- and anti-gay demonstrators.

Riot police guard gay rights activists who were beaten by anti-gay protesters during a gay rights rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 29, 2013.

Earlier in the year, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that will impose hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about the gay community to minors.

A gay rights activist is seen after clashes with anti-gay demonstrators during a gay pride event in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 29, 2013.

Gay rights activists take part in a gay pride event in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 29, 2013.

Russian riot police detain gay rights activists during a gay pride event in St. Petersburg, June 29, 2013.

Russian riot police detain anti-gay protesters during a Gay pride event in St. Petersburg, June 29, 2013.

Police officers detain an anti-gay activist demonstrating outside the lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, in Moscow, June 11, 2013, to support a bill banning homosexual "propaganda" among minors.

A gay rights activist looks on after being hit with rotten eggs thrown by anti-gay demonstrators outside the State Duma in Moscow, June 11, 2013.

Gay rights activists protest outside the State Duma in Moscow, June 11, 2013.

An anti-gay activist hits a Russian gay and LGBT rights activist during unauthorized gay rights activists rally in cental Moscow, May 25, 2013.

Russian riot policemen detain a gay and LGBT rights activist during an unauthorized gay rights rally in cental Moscow, May 25, 2013.

Russian riot police detain an activist during an unauthorized gay rights rally in central Moscow, May 25, 2013.

Russian riot policemen detain gay and LGBT rights activist Yury Gavrikov (C) during an unauthorized gay rights rally in cental Moscow, May 25, 2013.

A Russian gay and LGBT rights activist shows sign reading "Love is stronger than homophobia" from inside of a Russian riot police van during an unauthorized gay rights activists rally in cental Moscow, May 25, 2013.

Russian riot policemen detain gay and LGBT rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev (C) during an unauthorized gay rights rally in cental Moscow, May 25, 2013.