GREEN Party members in Oxford have condemned an attack on gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell in Moscow.

Mr Tatchell is standing as the Green Party's parliamentary candidate for Oxford East at the next general election.

The human rights activist was attacked during a Moscow rally on Saturday, after travelling to the city at the request of the Moscow Gay Pride organisers.

He was the keynote speaker at the opening session of the conference and was furious that he was arrested - but his attackers were not.

David Williams, Green city councillor for Iffley Fields, who has previously visited Russia and is a leading member of Mr Tatchell's general election campaign team, said: "I understand that Peter has now been released without charge, but is pursuing a case against his attackers.

"His right eye is badly bruised and swollen. He has been to hospital and been treated but we do not yet know the long-term prognosis.

"He was planning to be back in Oxford campaigning later this week. As far as I know, this is still on the cards."

Mr Tatchell was attacked by people he believes were right-wing Neo-Nazi extremists.

He said that Moscow riot police stood by while he was attacked. Clutching a bloody eye, he was then arrested by the police.

"They arrested me", Mr Tatchell said, "but let my attackers walk free."

He added: "We need a strong statement of condemnation from the Foreign Office, which has so far been silent.

"I am a British citizen violently attacked when mounting a lawful protest while the Russian police allowed violence to be perpetrated against me.

"There is no rule of law in Moscow. The right to protest does not exist. This is not a democracy.

"We were defending the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest for all Russians, gay and straight.

"The ban on Moscow Gay Pride is one aspect of a much wider attack on civil society and human rights.

"It is evidence of a failed transition from communism to democracy and of a rising trend towards autocracy and authoritarianism."