Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, issued this statement today in regard to the reports of torture and murder of gay men in Chechnya:
We continue to be disturbed by reports of kidnapping, torture, and murder of people in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation and those persecuted by association. If true, this violation of human rights cannot be ignored – Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these allegations, hold anyone involved accountable, and take steps to prevent future abuses.
We are against all forms of discrimination, including against people based on sexual orientation. When left unchecked, discrimination and human rights abuses can lead to destabilization and conflict.
Tomorrow, the United States will lead a first-ever meeting on human rights in international conflicts in the UN Security Council to underscore our commitment to addressing human rights abuses wherever they threaten international peace and security.
I’m not so sure about Chechen authorities “investigating these allegations,” but here’s hoping the United Nations has some pull to make something stop these horrific violations of human rights.
The leader of Chechnya has lashed out at international organizations that have strongly criticized the Russian region for reportedly persecuting and killing gays.
The respected newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported two weeks ago that gay men were being detained and beaten in Chechnya and said at least three had been killed.
Since then, international rights groups have denounced the claimed violence and asked Russia to intervene.
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said on his social media account Sunday that he had met with the region’s human rights council and proclaimed that rights have undergone a “grandiose” improvement in Muslim-majority Chechnya.
Kadyrov says international organizations are conducting a “massive information attack … using the most unworthy methods, reality is distorted, attempts are being made to blacken our society, lifestyle, traditions and customs.”
Kadyrov has also declared that the allegations can’t possibly be true because there really aren’t any gay people in Chechnya – “If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them since their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return.”
My man, former Vice President Joe Biden, issued this statement today via Facebook regarding the horrific human rights abuses against gay men in Chechnya:
“I am disgusted and appalled by reports from both the Russian media and non-governmental organizations that authorities in the Russian republic of Chechnya have rounded up, tortured, and even murdered individuals who are believed to be gay. When faced with such crimes of hate and inhumanity, it is the responsibility of every person of conscience to speak out—to oppose this campaign of violence before it continues further.
“Every man or woman on this earth is entitled to be treated with dignity—to live without fear and to love freely. Unfortunately, the human rights abuses perpetrated by Chechen authorities and the culture of impunity that surrounds them means that these hate crimes are unlikely to ever be properly investigated or that the perpetrators will see justice. But that does not mean that we should fail to defend basic human rights, fundamental freedoms, and universal values.
“I hope that the current administration lives up to the promises it has made to advance human rights for everyone by raising this issue directly with Russia’s leaders. The United States must lead the way to demand an end to these egregious violations of human rights.”
Where is President Trump on this?
We’ve heard nothing from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson nor United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
As the world continues to respond in outrage over reports that over 100 gay men have been rounded up, beaten and tortured in Chechnya, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin denies any knowledge of horrific crimes.
“We do not have any reliable information about any problems in this area” in the Chechen Republic, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Friday.
Chechnya is a federal subject of Russia, and it’s leader – Ramzan Kadyrov – is a close ally of Putin.
In 2009, the American organization Freedom House included Chechnya in the “Worst of the Worst” list of most repressive societies in the world. Torture and executions are not uncommon in the Chechen Republic.
The Washington Postreports that there is a full-on war on gays in Chechnya with over 100 men already
Ramzan Kadyrov is unlike any other provincial leader in Russia. He rules the republic of Chechnya with brute force and enjoys the indulgence of President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Mr. Kadyrov keeps order in Chechnya, and Mr. Putin keeps out of his way. Now this deal has apparently led to barbaric treatment of gay men in the traditionally conservative Muslim society.
The crusading newspaper Novaya Gazeta published a startling article April 1 that reported Mr. Kadyrov’s armed thugs were detaining and executing gay men, with more than 100 men already seized, three of them known to be dead and many others possibly murdered in extrajudicial “honor” killings. A respected human rights expert, Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, Russia project coordinator for the International Crisis Group, told the New York Times and the Guardian that she had been receiving similar reports.
According to the Novaya Gazeta report, the sweep began when a Moscow gay rights group began filing requests for demonstrations in Russia’s provincial cities. Although the group had not focused on the predominantly Muslim North Caucasus region, including Chechnya, the petitions galvanized a local drive to round up gay men. “In Chechnya, the command was given for a ‘prophylactic sweep’ and it went as far as real murders,” Novaya Gazeta reported, saying the authorities searched for closeted gay men partly by posing as men seeking dates on social media websites. The newspaper also noted that none of the men detained had been open about their homosexuality in a society where it is still strictly taboo.
Mr. Kadyrov’s spokesman brushed off the report, saying no one in the republic is homosexual. “You cannot arrest or repress people who just don’t exist in the republic,” Alvi Karimov said to Interfax. “If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them since their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return.”
The Daily Mail offers further details, reporting that a concentration camp has been set up in Chechnya, and gay men are being tortured with electricity and being beaten, sometimes to death.
The beatings are apparently meant to coerce the names of other gay men from the prisoners.
Tanya Lokshina, from Human Rights Watch in Moscow, said: ‘For several weeks now, a brutal campaign against LGBT people has been sweeping through Chechnya.
‘These days, very few people in Chechnya dare speak to human rights monitors or journalists even anonymously because the climate of fear is overwhelming and people have been largely intimidated into silence.
‘Filing an official complaint against local security officials is extremely dangerous, as retaliation by local authorities is practically inevitable.
‘It is difficult to overstate just how vulnerable LGBT people are in Chechnya, where homophobia is intense and rampant. LGBT people are in danger not only of persecution by the authorities but also of falling victim to “honour killings” by their own relatives for tarnishing family honour.’
An interesting twist in this story is the rumor that Kadyrov could be a closeted gay man.
LGBT activist Aaron Baldwin shared several pics of Kadyrov with various men on Facebook, including this one of Timati, or Mr. BlackStar as he calls himself. The rapper and producer is rumoured to be Kadyrov’s lover.
This pic is reportedly from Timati’s Instagram, deleted soon after. The rapper is purported to be in Kadyrov’s bed on his private jet.
This past Saturday, a gay Dutch couple was attacked by a group of six to eight young men who followed the couple on bicycles, shouting anti-gay slurs.
The attack escalated to brutal violence which ended with one of the men losing several teeth and a lacerated lip after he was beaten with bolt cutters.
The two were on their way home from a dance party at Luxor Live in Arnhem. “We’ll almost never show in public that we are in a relationship”, Jasper told the broadcaster. “But we had a few drinks, it was dark on the street and there were almost no people, so we held hands.”
When they reached the Nelson Mandela Bridge they were confronted by a group of six to eight young men. “I think they were Moroccans. They began to shout: disgusting, dirty, homo, such things. We shouted something back and walked on, but all of a sudden they came after us.” Jasper said to RTL.
Before they knew what was happening, the two men were pulled apart. “Suddenly I saw a guy pull bolt cutters out of his jacket and I heard Ronnie screaming: Jasper, Jasper, they knocked all my teeth out of my mouth’.” When Jasper reached his partner, Ronnie was covered n blood. “He was very upset. I immediately called 112. The ambulance took us to the hospital, where his lip was attached.”
The latest reports indicate that 4 have been arrested in connection with the attack: one 14-year-old, and three 16-year-olds.
Dutch politicians D66 leader Alexander Pechtold and party member Wouter Koolmees arrived at meetings Monday holding hands in a show of solidarity over the violent attack.
Dutch politicians Alexander Pechtold and Wouter Koolmees
