Members of German metal band Rammstein kissed on stage during a concert in Russia in defiance of the country's strict anti-LGBTQ laws.
The 'Du Hast' rockers were performing at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Monday (local time) when guitarists Paul Landers and Richard Kruspe locked lips.
Rammstein then posted a photo of the affectionate moment on their band Instagram account, with a caption in Russian that translates to "Russia, We Love You!".
The same-sex kiss took place just days after prominent Russian LGBTQ activist Yelena Grigorieva was found murdered, after her name was listed on a 'gay-hunting' website run by the country's far-right.
Grigorieva's death is the latest in a long series of violent acts carried out against members of Russia's LGBTQ community, which reportedly escalated since the country's President Vladimir Putin signed in legislation known as the anti-gay law in 2013.
In 2017, a European court called the law discriminatory, noting that it "had reinforced stigma and prejudice and encouraged homophobia".
In self-governed Russian state Chechnya, gay people have reportedly been rounded up and held in modern-day concentration camps, where alleged torture and executions have also taken place.
Rammstein's pro-LGBTQ statements have been celebrated online, with one fan tweeting "Just when I thought I couldn't love them more than I already do, here they come, waving pride flags and openly supporting LGBTQ people".
The band have already shown support for LGBTQ rights on their current tour of Europe. During a performance in Poland, they waved rainbow Pride flags while crowd-surfing in a rubber dinghy.
That came after reports that members of Poland’s LGBTQ community facing violence during a Pride parade and 'LGBTQ-free' zones being promoted by extremists.
Rammstein are currently touring to support their seventh, self-titled album.
Newshub.
