hply shit. Chechenya's (an autonomous region of Russia) recently opened concentration camps for LGBT peoples. 100 gay men have been captured and 3+ have died
I donât even have the words for this.
Human Rights Watch states:
For several weeks now, a brutal campaign against LGBT people has been sweeping through Chechnya. Law enforcement and security agency officials under control of the ruthless head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, have rounded up dozens of men on suspicion of being gay, torturing and humiliating the victims. Some of the men have forcibly disappeared. Others were returned to their families barely alive from beatings. At least three men apparently have died since this brutal campaign began.
This chilling information was first publicised by Novaya Gazeta, a leading independent Russian paper. Their report came out on 1 April, prompting the spokesperson for Chechnyaâs Interior Ministry to dismiss it as an âApril foolsâ joke.â Kadyrovâs press secretary immediately described the report as âabsolute lies and disinformation,â contending that there were no gay people in Chechnya and then adding cynically, âIf there were such people in Chechnya, law-enforcement agencies wouldnât need to have anything to do with them because their relatives would send them somewhere from which there is no returning.â
Mass pro-Kadyrov rally organized by Chechen authorities in Grozny in January 2016.
Chechnyaâs official news agency, Grozny Info, quoted numerous local commentators bashing Novaya Gazeta and other âenemiesâ of Chechnya and Russia for supposed attempts to discredit the Chechen people, âfoster sodomy,â and undermine âtraditional values.â
The information published by Novaya Gazeta is consistent with the reports Human Rights Watch recently received from numerous trusted sources, including sources on the ground. The number of sources and the consistency of the stories leaves us with no doubt that these devastating developments have indeed occurred. LGBT Network in Russia opened a special hotline to provide emergency support to those who find themselves in immediate danger.
The Russian LGBT Network has released a statement with stories about what has happened to some (obviously anonymous) men.
Itâs really important to share the Russian LGBT Networkâs statement overall:
The Russian LGBT Networks is highly disturbed and concerned about the information on the kidnapping and killing of people in Chechnya because of their sexual orientation. We are also outraged by the reaction of the officials of the Chechen Republic, who in fact justify the killings. Â No national and/or religious traditions and norms can justify kidnapping or killing of a human being. Any references to âtraditionsâ to justify kidnappings and killings are amoral and criminal.
The Russian LGBT Network makes every effort to contact the victims and to provide the emergency support. Taking into account the recent statements of the Chechnya officials, we believe that the only thing that can work out is the evacuation. We cooperate closely we the human rights defenders both in Russia and abroad, and ready to evacuate.
On Monday, the Russian LGBT Network will appeal to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation with two claims. The one is the demand to investigate the information on the crimes, published in âNovaya Gazetaâ. Another one is the claim to check whether the public statements of the Chechen officials made on April 1 and justifying the killings, contain the elements of the offence.
We are grateful to everyone who contacted us and asked how they can help. What do we need now?
Help us to spread the information about the fact that the Russian LGBT Network is ready to evacuate people. Please think for whom this information can be useful. You can spread the information publicly or personally. Everyone who needs help can contact us by email or call the Hotline (8 800 555 73 74). The call is free all over Russia.
In accordance with the Russian legislation, every citizen can apply to the Investigative Committee with the demand to investigate the information about the crime published in mass media. We encourage everyone to apply (the template of the claim will be published tomorrow).
We understand that many people want to help those in need. But please remember that any uncoordinated actions can put in additional danger people in need and those who are ready to help. Therefore, we do not recommend to collect the addresses of people who are ready to provide temporarily shelter.
Be aware, that the situation with the human rights in the North Caucasus is truly difficult. Now peopleâs lives are endangered and the only way to help is the evacuation. The Russian LGBT Network has the necessary resources to evacuate people, there is a team that already makes every effort to safe lives. That is why we ask everyone to share with us the information about people in need and any offers of assistance.
Again, their contact information is here for all Russians, and the number is free to call.
This is very real, modern day evil and this information needs to be shared.
