Two murders and dozens of torture cases in new LGBT+ purge in Chechnya
Two LGBTI+ people died as a result of police torture in Chechnya, activists reported this week. Since late December, the government of the North Caucasus Muslim republic has been carrying out new raids, and at least 40 LGBTI+ people have been arrested and tortured. “This is the beginning of a second wave of persecution…”
Share
Two LGBTQ+ people died as a result of police torture in Chechnya, activists reported this week. Since late December, the government of the North Caucasus Muslim republic has been carrying out new raids, and at least 40 LGBTQ+ people have been arrested and tortured.
"This is the beginning of a second wave of persecution against LGBT people. All it takes is suspicion for them to be arrested," Yuri Guaiana, an activist with the international organization All Out, told Presentes.
According to sources from the Russian LGBT Network, this new purge began on December 29th following the arrest of the administrator of one of the social media groups "VKontakte." This group was a forum for gay men from the North Caucasus. Dozens more arrests followed.
Since 2016, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has systematically persecuted LGBTI+ people, and his secret service has arrested hundreds of people, subjecting them to beatings and electroshocks.
[READ ALSO: Reports indicate that a singer was murdered in an “anti-gay” camp in Chechnya]
Human rights activists have been denouncing these practices and pointing the finger at the Kremlin, which turns a blind eye to human rights violations in the Chechen republic, a part of Russia. According to Igor Kochetkov, director of the Russian LGBT Network, “We don’t know exactly how many people were detained. The victims are being held in Argun, and the local police won’t let them leave, confiscating their passports or other documents. They threaten them or their families with criminal prosecution and force them to sign blank forms.”
For her part, Guaiana told Presentes: “Putin prioritizes his own interests over human rights, and that’s why he does nothing. The rest of the world leaders can do a lot, but they must act quickly. Next week, many will be meeting in Switzerland for a World Economic Forum. A Russian delegation will be there. That’s one of the places to protest and create a media storm. That’s why we launched a campaign, urging world leaders , including Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to sign to stop this repression and persecution in Chechnya.”
[READ ALSO: Torture of gays in Chechnya: “These are crimes against humanity”]
In December 2018, a report was published on the severe human rights violations in Chechnya . The investigation was conducted by Professor of International Law Wolfgang Benedek in conjunction with the OSCE. Professor Benedek spoke with survivors, witnesses, human rights activists, and journalists. The report confirms the widespread human rights violations.
The Russian LGBT Network has been working to protect victims of persecution in Chechnya since April 2017. Since then, it has evacuated about 150 people from the region and found refuge for about 130 outside of Russia.
We are Present
We are committed to a type of journalism that delves deeply into the realm of the world and offers in-depth research, combined with new technologies and narrative formats. We want the protagonists, their stories, and their struggles to be present.
SUPPORT US
FOLLOW US
Related Notes
We Are Present
This and other stories don't usually make the media's attention. Together, we can make them known.