US State Department ‘deeply disturbed’ by reports Chechnya has continued crackdown on LGBT people
In 2017, more than 100 gay men were arrested, tortured and killed in the predominately Muslim region of Russia
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
The US State Department are “deeply disturbed” by reports that Chechnya is continuing their crackdown on LGBT+ people.
It was reported this week by the Russian LGBT Network that two people have been killed and 40 more have been detained in a new crackdown on the LGBT+ community in the predominately Muslim region of Russia.
Back in 2017, it was reported that more than 100 gay men were arrested, tortured and killed in Chechnya and when Chechen authorities denied the accusations, a probe found nothing to support the reports.
Now – after the Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan called for Russian authorities to investigate into the reports – Robert Palladino, a US State Department spokesperson, has urged the Russian government to “live up to its international obligations”.
Palladino said in a statement: “We are deeply disturbed by credible reports out of Chechnya about renewed attacks against individuals perceived to be members of the LGBTI community.
“We call on Russia to live up to its international obligations and commitments and its own constitution and launch an immediate investigation into these human rights abuses.”