Russian police detained 11 LGBT activists on Wednesday at a Silence Day protest in the city of St. Petersburg.

The yearly event meant to raise people’s awareness of LGBT problems in the country gathered around 50 people who sealed their mouths with red tape and marched through the city’s streets.

About 60 activists gathered at the main square in the city centre, despite a ban being placed on the rally.

They held up placards and rainbow-coloured flags, and called for LGBT rights to be protected.

In 2013, Russia passed legislation banning the spreading of what it described as gay propaganda.

• Smuggling the Pride flag into Russia
• This bus for gay pro footballers is empty
• The LGBT prom for people who missed out

Organisers of Saturday’s rally said that each demonstrator had protested alone, to avoid the rally being classified as a gathering.