Torbjorn Jagland
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe (COE) Thorbjorn Jagland demanded that the Russian Commissioner for human rights Tatyana Moskalkova to pay attention to the reports on repression against homosexuals in the Chechen Republic. About it reports “Interfax” with reference to the press service of the COE.
Jagland wrote Moskalkova a letter in which he expressed concern over media reports about human rights violations against members of the LGBT community in Chechnya. “I’m sure your office is well aware of these allegations. With all seriousness, of course I am sure you will consider them with due care”, — stated in the message.
The COE Secretary General also asked Moskalkova to keep it informed of the outcome of the investigation.
Earlier, similar appeals to the head of the Investigative Committee (SK) Alexander Bastrykin, acting head of SU IC in Chechnya Sergei Sokolov and Moskalkova by the international organization Amnesty International (AI). Human rights activists demanded to ensure the safety of any person in Chechnya at risk because of their sexual orientation, and to prevent further discriminatory comments from officials of the Republic.
1 April, “Novaya Gazeta” published an article about mass arrests in Chechnya gay men. A source in the interior Ministry reported that it takes a “preventive cleaning” of sexual minorities. Later, the newspaper published anonymous testimonies of gays who allegedly failed to leave the Republic. They said that the detainees held in a secret prison, where he was tortured with electric shocks and beaten with sticks and release them only for a great ransom.
Chechen officials responded to the publication of critical. In particular, the press Secretary of the head of Chechnya reported that in Chechnya there is no persecution of gays, because in the country there are gay. “If Chechnya were people, law enforcement would not have any worries with them, because they would be the relatives would be sent via email no return,” gave Karimov.
The Kremlin said that the issue of security of the Chechen gays are not included in the presidential agenda.