16:47, 3 April 2018

Activists report evacuation of 114 gay men from Chechnya within a year

Grozny, Chechnya. Photo: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Since April 2017, a total of 114 persons suspected of non-traditional sexual orientation have left Chechnya with the help of the "Russian LGBT Network". 92 of them are already outside of Russia, said Igor Kochetkov, the chairman of the network.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April-September 2017, the "Russian LGBT Network" raised 300,000 euros as part of the campaign aimed to help in evacuation of homosexuals from Chechnya.

41 persons were illegally detained and tortured in Chechnya; 30 persons more were members of their families, who were in danger, Mr Kochetkov has stated. Also, 14 men were visited by law enforcers, who threatened them; seven turned to the hotline of the "LGBT Network" after detentions of their acquaintances.

According to Igor Kochetkov, five persons refused from the help of the "LGBT Network" after the initial appeal. According to rights defenders, one of them is no longer alive, the "Novaya Gazeta" reports.

Mass appeals have stopped after the information wave and reaction from the West, the "Rosbalt" reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.