Lord Mayor questions dropping St Petersburg as a sister city Russian riot police officers walk in front of a column of opposition and human rights activists during their joint opposition rally called March against Hatred in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. LORD Mayor Robert Doyle has questioned whether dumping Melbourne's sister city relationship with a Russian city will have any effect on anti-gay laws there. A delegation of gay rights activists fronted a city council meeting last night to demand that the sister city link with St Petersburg be revoked because of the laws, and violence against gay Russians. Carl Katter, half brother of federal MP Bob Katter, told the council that gays had been murdered in Russia since the laws came into effect. "It's greatly disturbing for our community," he said. Mr Katter, who has collected more than 9000 signatures for a petition calling for action, said he was worried Melbourne's reputation would suffer because of St Petersburg's stance. Cr Doyle said Melbourne had a reputation for being a diverse and accepting city and the council did not support the "abhorrent" anti-gay propaganda laws that St Petersburg, and now Russia, had adopted. But the Lord Mayor said that dumping the sister city relationship was not a straightforward solution and engaging St Petersburg may be a better option. "I think there are further levers that we can use to influence the repealing of the laws and make our views known," he said. Council officers are investigating what our options are and will report to council, with a recommendation, on December 17. The Russian legislation threatens fines for anyone "making public action among minors for the propaganda of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality or transgenderism." St Petersburg authorities have told Melbourne that the laws are intended to protect families and children.