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LGBT activists opposed to Chechen crackdown detained in Moscow LGBT activists opposed to Chechen persecution detained in Moscow
(about 1 hour later)
Several activists have been detained in Moscow as they prepared to submit a petition protesting against the torture and persecution of gay men in Chechnya.Several activists have been detained in Moscow as they prepared to submit a petition protesting against the torture and persecution of gay men in Chechnya.
A violent crackdown on gay people in Chechnya was first reported in the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which has alleged that more than 100 Chechen men suspected of being gay have been rounded up and at least three killed. The Guardian has independently spoken to gay Chechen men who gave accounts of beatings and torture in the ultra-conservative, predominantly Muslim southern Russian republic.A violent crackdown on gay people in Chechnya was first reported in the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which has alleged that more than 100 Chechen men suspected of being gay have been rounded up and at least three killed. The Guardian has independently spoken to gay Chechen men who gave accounts of beatings and torture in the ultra-conservative, predominantly Muslim southern Russian republic.
Igor Yasin, an LGBT activist, said five people were detained outside the prosecutor general’s office in Moscow on Thursday morning as they brought about 2m signatures for submission.Igor Yasin, an LGBT activist, said five people were detained outside the prosecutor general’s office in Moscow on Thursday morning as they brought about 2m signatures for submission.
One of the people detained was an Italian activist, said the New York-based civic group Avaaz, which helped collect the signatures worldwide.One of the people detained was an Italian activist, said the New York-based civic group Avaaz, which helped collect the signatures worldwide.
Avaaz’s campaign director, Bert Wander, described the detentions as a “blatant attempt by Russia to intimidate those standing up for gay people, [which] will only draw more global attention to the horrors unfolding in Chechnya.”Avaaz’s campaign director, Bert Wander, described the detentions as a “blatant attempt by Russia to intimidate those standing up for gay people, [which] will only draw more global attention to the horrors unfolding in Chechnya.”
Last week Angela Merkel urged Vladimir Putin to investigate what was going in Chechnya. Putin, who has supported the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s denials of an anti-gay purge, told the Russian human rights ombudswoman, Tatyana Moskalkova, that he would speak to law enforcement officials about the reports.Last week Angela Merkel urged Vladimir Putin to investigate what was going in Chechnya. Putin, who has supported the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s denials of an anti-gay purge, told the Russian human rights ombudswoman, Tatyana Moskalkova, that he would speak to law enforcement officials about the reports.
The Associated Press contributed to this reportThe Associated Press contributed to this report