In light of the latest extreme attacks on the LGBTIQ+ community in Chechnya, Russia, which United Nations human rights experts have called “unprecedented”, English group Left Unity released the following statement on April 14.
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Left Unity strongly condemns the reported incarceration and abuse of gay men in Chechnya, Russia. We call for the closure of the reported detention centre for gay men in Chechnya. We send solidarity to all gay and Trans men suffering such oppression.
Even stories of such oppression send shock waves around the globe and encourage other oppressive governments to attack LGBT+ people.
We recognise that Chechnya is a minor power involved in global power struggles and that not all reports may be reliable.
Left Unity utterly condemns this vicious oppression of gay men and demands the Chechen and Russian governments do all in their power to stop these actions. We urge our government to pursue demands for a full investigation through the United Nations and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Left Unity Principal Speaker Nick Jones said: “Gay men were incarcerated in Nazi Germany, and persecuted and imprisoned for years afterwards, which is still in the lifetime of many people. Freedom for gay men has now been achieved in most of Europe.
“We call for solidarity with those incarcerated and those who fear such oppression across the globe and most of all we hope they know they are not alone, that a tidal wave of good people around the world are fighting for them to be free and safe.”