News: Gay Men Being Rounded Up & Killed in Chechnya
Russia isn’t exactly known to have a great record on LGBTQ rights, and news coming out of Chechnya is only reinforcing that reputation.
According to the New York Times, more than a hundred gay men have been rounded up and detained in Chechnya, with three of them killed by authorities. The New York Times is citing the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which says the figures come from government and police sources.
The news comes after a week that was filled with rumors of gay men disappearing in Chechnya. Novaya Gazeta says that dozens of men between the ages of 16 and 50 have been detained “in connection with their nontraditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such.”
According to Slate, Russia’s LGBTQ community had earlier attempted to stage pride parades in cities across the country, with the intention of taking their case to the European Court of Human Rights once denied. The disappearances seem to be a backlash to those applications, even if none of them were made in Chechnya.
Novaya Gazeta pins the blame on local authorities, who in turn deny not only the allegations, but even the existence of gay men in Chechnya. In a statement obtained by Radio Free Europe, Alvi Karimov, spokesman for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, said that “You cannot arrest or repress people who just don’t exist in the republic.”
Karimov also said that “If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them, as their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return.”
Kadyrov is a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose track record with LGBTQ rights is problematic, to say the least. In 2015, he awarded Russia’s highest civilian honor to an anti-gay politician. Russia has also upheld an anti-propaganda law that effectively disallows all gay rights rallies and could be used to prosecute anyone voicing support for homosexuals.
How do you feel about these disappearances happening Chechnya? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
It is a tragedy. To think that things as bad as what happened to the Jewish people in the time of Hitler are still capable of happening in this day and age.
Trump is a pitiful , ruthless, liar ,racist pig
You people do realize that Chechnya IS Muslim, right? Even though the govt has the sort of backing by the Russian Federation it is still administered by Muslims. So why is everybody shocked? Look at the radicals, Iran, Saudi Arabia, ISIS, they all target gays. Granted, Putin isnt the best friend of the lifestyle but its Islam thats causing the problem in Chechnya.
http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2013/04/19/islam-and-chechnya
I sure hope you jerkoffs (40% of the LGBTwhathefuckever community) who voted for the Orange Shitgibbon are happy with your stupid choice….Frump is pals with ALL SORTS of Russian mobsters and clowns. I myself have had two attempted hacks form the Uktraine since I started rallying against Frump last year. At least I have a better FICO score than Frump does….317. He can’t get financed except through Russian scumballs!
That is horrible
This is unbelievable It will be re-read so I can let it soak in how luck I am to be a gay black male in the south
This is exactly the reason why I would not travel to any Russian states. I certainly don’t want to give my gay dollars to their tourism. I urge you fellow gay people to do the same. Don’t contribute to their economy in a small way you can. Travel where it’s gay friendly.
It is metaphysical, this problem and solution… All that is is sentient identity exploring and, whilst doing so, attempting to maintain the establishment of perfect equilibrium. Extremists empower both sides of the war? The medium is sentient identity maintaining via establishing. Sanity is the only question!? Thus “content” is the only sociological concern? Of course neurotic extremists will attempt to slander a d exploit this statement? Therefore I pray them away! Amen!
How about the cruel and violent homophobia in Jamaica? Oh, I forgot:
1. Lots of cheap ganja for the tourists.
2. The Jamaicans have powerful and occult connections within the Deep State.
Well, there are a LOT of people on “di” PAYROLL!
I keep thinking that Trump is heading in that line of thinking. He will convince himself that it is a Great Step in the right direction! WHY?? Why do we still put up with Him!!
This is beyond horrible, and here in the states people voted for that thing of a president that’s against our best damn interest! Well, I sure DID NOT voted for him nor Republican and never will! I rather vote Independent that vote Red over my dead body!
Gee David, How do we feel about this…does that really need to be asked or given a moment of thought? Pretty sure no ones going to say; good for them, kill them all.
But thanks for spreading the News story.
Why can’t we live our lives in peace?
Barbarians at the gates of freedom, liberty., and justice for all freethinking individuals. And now we have one of our own…Trump!
How can we help them? They need true freedom….. Russia is so repressive!
Why can’t we live our lives? I can’t for the life of me understand how men can be straight, but I don’t make an issue out it. Please, just leave us alone.