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Ballet Dancers Protest Outside Russian Embassy Against Gay Rights Crackdown (PICTURES)

LOOK: Ballet Dancers Protest Over Gay Rights
The Huffington Post UK
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An unusual protest took place outside the Russian Embassy on Wednesday afternoon.

Ballet dancers turned up at the building in central London to make their feelings known about Vladimir Putin's gay rights crackdown.

Ahead of the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Amnesty International activists demanded Putin ended his "assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia".

Gay Rights Demo
Gay rights demo(01 of12)
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Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(02 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(03 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(04 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(05 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(06 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(07 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(08 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(09 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(10 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(11 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)
Gay rights demo(12 of12)
Open Image Modal
Amnesty International ballet protest ahead of the Winter Olympics, calling for an end to Russian President Putin's crackdown on human rights. Ballet dancers and Amnesty International activists held a protest outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand President Putin ends his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights in Russia. (credit:PA)

They did so while performing one of Russia's best-loved ballets, Swan Lake.

Putin's gay "propaganda" laws are blamed for a rise in homophobic attacks in Russia, and on Monday the mayor of Sochi declared that no gay people lived in his city.

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