A group of Russian LGBT+ activists have been arrested in St. Petersburg during an annual “Day of Silence” protest for sex and gender equality. Some 11 people were detained by police on April 17, including Daniel Maksimenko, who spoke to reporters at local news. “The police are going to detain everyone who walked with their mouths sealed. I heard what they said,” said Maksimenko. The activists were walking in the direction of the Church of the Saviour and covered their mouths with red tape when the police began making arrests. According to the organisers around 40-50 people attended the protest. The “Day of Silence” is a global student-led protest to highlight the silencing of LGBT+ communities across Russia.