14:14, 6 May 2023

“SK SOS Crisis Group”* recognized as a foreign agent

The Russian Ministry of Justice has included the “SK SOS Crisis Group”* into the register of foreign agents, explaining such a decision by the NGO’s “activities to promote LGBT relations.” The organization’s new status does not change anything, and people whose lives are in danger will be continuously provided with help, the NGO reports.

As stated on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the “SK SOS Crisis Group”* (North Caucasus SOS Crisis Group) “participated in the creation and distribution of materials of foreign agents, received support from foreign sources.” The Russian MoJ also indicates that the NGO “carried out activities to promote LGBT relations, which contradicts the state policy to preserve traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”

“We will continue to help people whose lives are in mortal danger,” the “SK SOS Crisis Group”* announces on its Telegram channel.

“In my opinion, we are the organization that acts in the interests of Russian citizens, saving them from persecution and torture,” states David Isteev, the director of the “SK SOS Crisis Group”*.

The “SK SOS Crisis Group”* helps LGBT people from the regions of Northern Caucasus. In particular, the organization seeks an institution of a criminal case on the kidnapping of Ibragim Selimkhanov, a native of Dagestan, by Chechen law enforcers, and tries to provide assistance to Idris Arsamikov, a native of Chechnya, who was returned to Chechnya by force.

In February, the human rights organization announced that the number of appeals received by the “SK SOS Crisis Group”* with complaints about persecution increased three times in 2022.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 5, 2023 at 10:32 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot