Calls for end to Glasgow's ties with Russia over anti-gay law Protesters are calling on Glasgow's Lord Provost to cut the city's ties with a Russian counterpart over anti-gay legislation the country introduced. More than 500 people have signed an online petition demanding that Glasgow's relationship as a twin city of Rostov on Don is severed because of the laws introduced last month that ban giving children information about homosexuality. Glasgow's Lord Provost Sadie Docherty confirmed she has sent a letter to Rostov on Don Mayor Michael Chernyshev, expressing concern over the legislation. On Friday the Equality Network is planning a protest in outside the Russian Consulate in Edinburgh over the anti-gay legislation, while actor Stephen Fry has launched an online campaign to strip Russia of the 2014 Winter Olympics in response to the law. In the letter to the mayor of Rostov on Don Ms Docherty wrote: "Our historic twinning agreement was signed in November 1986 and marked the first step in our citizens being able to share academic, cultural, sporting and business links that would help foster a mutual understanding of our cities histories and cultures. I greatly value our twinning link and the opportunities it brings. However, recently there has been a lot of media coverage about the Russian government's legislation in relation to its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities as well as homophobic incidents. Because of this, I am writing to express my concerns about the way people in Russia are being treated as a result of this legislation. We would hope that any city that we have a relationship with would uphold people's human rights and treat them with dignity. The Lord Provost added: "I would welcome an open dialogue with you in this respect on how our two great cities might foster progressive policies with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities. I am looking forward to visiting Rostov in September and to the chance to speak with you personally about this important issue. I would also be happy to host a delegation from Rostov here in Glasgow to share more of our good experience of working to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered citizens as a valued part of our city. Glasgow took a strong stand against the UK government's legislation in the 1990s which discriminated against lesbian and gay people. I am proud that our city has continued to give public support to equal rights. The petition on the Change.org website calls on Ms Docherty to end Glasgow's twinning agreement on the back of "a series of attacks on LGBT people and continuous oppression of our community" in Russia following the introduction of the legislation.