Russia's treatment of gay rights has once again come under scrutiny as it announced it is banning a celebratory parade in honour of Conchita Wurst, the winner of this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Officials in Moscow turned down a request from the leaders of a gay rights group to honour the Austrian singer, real name Thomas Neuwirth, who performs in drag as alter ego Conchita.

"We informed them that the event could not take place," Alexei Mayorov, from Moscow's mayoral office, told Russian news agency Interfax, adding that the parade application was rejected to "respect morality in the education of the younger generation".

There were also concerns it would provoke clashes between gays and their opponents, Interfax reported.

Ironically, the parade had been planned for May 27 - the 21st anniversary of Russia's legalising homosexuality.

While being gay isn't illegal in Russia, the country is widely seen as hostile to its LGBT population and president Vladimir Putin has come under fire for bringing in new laws seen as cracking down on gay rights.

Since his return to power in 2012, the country has criminalised the distribution of information on homosexuality to people under the age of 18 and upheld a ban on gay pride marches in Moscow for the next 100 years.

Russia bans parade for Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst