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Chechen pop star may have been killed in anti-gay crackdown, rights group says Chechen pop star may have been killed in anti-gay crackdown, rights group says
(about 20 hours later)
A leading Russian human rights group has expressed “serious fears” that a gay pop star may have been killed in Chechnya’s crackdown on the homosexual community. A leading Russian human rights group has expressed “serious fears” that a gay pop star may have been killed in Chechnya’s crackdown on tgay people.
Zelimkhan Bakayev, 26, went missing in August when he left his home in Moscow to visit the capital, Grozny, for his sister’s wedding.Zelimkhan Bakayev, 26, went missing in August when he left his home in Moscow to visit the capital, Grozny, for his sister’s wedding.
“When a person disappears and the police force refuse to investigate his disappearance, we have serious fears for the life of that person,” Oleg Orlov, from Memorial, Russia’s oldest civil rights group, told AFP on Friday.“When a person disappears and the police force refuse to investigate his disappearance, we have serious fears for the life of that person,” Oleg Orlov, from Memorial, Russia’s oldest civil rights group, told AFP on Friday.
Russian NGOs and media outlets have raised concerns about the fate of Bakayev and speculated that Chechen police may have abducted him due to his sexual orientation.Russian NGOs and media outlets have raised concerns about the fate of Bakayev and speculated that Chechen police may have abducted him due to his sexual orientation.
Bakayev’s mother called on Chechnya’s authorities to launch an investigation into her son’s disappearance, but no inquiry has been opened, according to Orlov.Bakayev’s mother called on Chechnya’s authorities to launch an investigation into her son’s disappearance, but no inquiry has been opened, according to Orlov.
The mystery surrounding Bakayev’s disappearance deepened in September when video recordings of the singer speaking in an apartment were uploaded to YouTube by an unknown person who claimed that he was “resting in Germany”.The mystery surrounding Bakayev’s disappearance deepened in September when video recordings of the singer speaking in an apartment were uploaded to YouTube by an unknown person who claimed that he was “resting in Germany”.
But relatives of Bakayev raised doubts it was really him as, they argued, he had an unusual hairstyle and seemed to have lost weight.But relatives of Bakayev raised doubts it was really him as, they argued, he had an unusual hairstyle and seemed to have lost weight.
They also noted the apartment had Russian furniture and drinks on show probably not sold in Germany, suggesting the video was a hoax.They also noted the apartment had Russian furniture and drinks on show probably not sold in Germany, suggesting the video was a hoax.
Bakayev’s former producer, Guilani Stadnik, told AFP he doubted the singer had been kidnapped. Bakayev’s former producer, Guilani Stadnik, told AFP he doubted the singer had been kidnapped. “I think that he escaped from his house and he is hiding somewhere”, maybe due to a personal conflict, he said.
“I think that he escaped from his house and he is hiding somewhere”, maybe due to a personal conflict, he said. Claims that Chechen police were targeting gay people and subjecting them to arbitrary arrest and violence first appeared in Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper, in March.
Claims that Chechen police were targeting homosexuals and subjecting them to arbitrary arrest and violence first appeared in Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper, in March. Gay people who have fled Chechnya to escape abuse have since described receiving beatings and electric shocks at the hands of the police.
Homosexuals who have fled Chechnya to escape abuse have since described receiving beatings and electric shocks at the hands of the police.
Maxim Lapunov, 30, gave a press conference in Moscow earlier this month and described his detention and torture by officers in Chechnya.Maxim Lapunov, 30, gave a press conference in Moscow earlier this month and described his detention and torture by officers in Chechnya.
Revelations about the persecution of homosexuals in Chechnya caused international outrage earlier this year, leading the Russian authorities to open an inquiry. The revelations caused international outrage earlier this year, leading the Russian authorities to open an inquiry.