13:26, 8 October 2017

Activists raise 300,000 euros for gays’ evacuation from Chechnya

Rainbow flags. Photo: https://www.svoboda.org/a/28496059.html

Since April 2017, they managed to raise 300,000 euros to evacuate gays from Chechnya and to render psychological aid to them, the Russian LGBT Network reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has informed that the gays’ evacuation from Chechnya began after reports in Russian media about persecutions of people with non-traditional sexual orientation in the republic.

On April 1, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reported about mass detentions in Chechnya of men suspected of unconventional sexual orientation. Later, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reported with reference to gays persecuted in Chechnya that in Argun, a "secret prison" had been arranged for people with unconventional sexual orientation. According to the "Radio Liberty", another similar prison, where members of sexual minorities are beaten and humiliated, is located in the Chechen village of Tsotsi-Yurt.

"The raised funds were spent to help with evacuation, namely, travel, accommodation, food, basic necessities, medical and psychological help, and drawing up all the necessary documents. Anyone may contribute to helping Chechen gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, who found themselves in a life-threatening situation," says the press release of the Russian LGBT Network, posted on its website.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.