Reports of Homosexual Concentration Camps in Chechnya



A Russian newspaper has reported that at least three men in Chechnya have been killed following police action that saw 100 gay men detained.  

Although Chechen authorities deny creating homosexual concentration camps, tellingly, they also deny the existence of homosexuality anywhere in their Republic. A spokesman for Chechnya’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, told The Interfax news agency:
“You cannot detain and persecute people who simply do not exist in the republic,” 

Outright International issued a statement detailing independent sources which appear to confirm accounts of torture and suggest that the number of men killed ‘maybe as many as 20’.  Jessica Stern, executive director of OutRight Action International, commented:

“The perpetrators of this malicious campaign must be held accountable for the systematic detention, torture, and killings of innocent men in Chechnya. No government should get away with such wanton human rights violations.”
Radio Free Europe spoke to three Chechen men who gave accounts of extortion and beatings. You can read their full post here.

Chechnya is a Russian Federal Republic with a predominantly Sunni Muslim population.



OutRight Action also included the following information in their press release:

Those who may be in distress or in need of help within Chechnya are encouraged to reach out to the Russian LGBT Network at 8 800 555 73 74 (the call is free within Russia). Additionally, anyone with information on the current situation in Chechnya can confidentially contact ILGA-Europe at +32 2 609 54 10 or info@ilga-europe.org.

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