If last week’s Pussy Riot verdict didn’t clue you in, Russia is different from America in a number of key ways. For one thing, they are much more forthcoming about their efforts to suppress LGBT rights, enough to file a lawsuit against an American celebrity for daring to speak out:

MOSCOW (AP) — Some Russian activists have sued Madonna for millions of dollars, claiming they were offended by her support for gay rights during a recent concert in St. Petersburg.
Anti-gay sentiment is strong in Russia. In St. Petersburg, a law passed in February makes it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors, and the author of that law has pointed to the presence of children as young as 12 at Madonna’s concert on Aug. 9.

Russian news agencies quote Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing the nine activists, as saying the suit was filed Friday against Madonna, the organizer of her concert, and the hall where it was held, asking for damages totaling 333 million rubles, or nearly $10.5 million.

Responding to criticism that the plaintiffs were stuck in the Middle Ages, the lawyer said they were using civilized, modern methods to defend their rights. “No one is burning anyone at the stake or carrying out an Inquisition,” Pochuyev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. “Modern civilization requires tolerance and respect for different values.”

I have not seen any video of Mr. Pochuyev’s interview, but one could read that as an expression of downright disappointment that he can’t fire up a good old-fashioned pyre; or as a barely-concealed threat that, if litigation fails, inquisition is sure to follow.

I doubt he’ll accomplish much more than looking like a buffoon in front of the whole world, though.