In a resolution adopted today, the European Parliament has called on Russian authorities to end the campaign of persecution targeted at people perceived to be LGBTI in Chechnya.

The resolution highlights that this persecution campaign is “part of a worrying trend of arrests, attacks, intimidations and discreditations”, targeting not only (perceived) LGBTI people, but human rights defenders and journalists as well (par. 5, 12).

Already in May 2017, the European Parliament condemned the arbitrary detentions and torture of (perceived) gay men in Chechnya.

Today, it reminds Russian authorities of the urgent need for immediate, independent, objective and thorough investigations, including by international human rights organisations. It also stresses the need to prosecute perpetrators of this violence and offer remedy to LGBTI victims. Finally, it welcomes the fact that some Member States have granted asylum to victims, and calls on other Member States to do so, in line with national and European law (par. 12, 13). Read more via LGBT-EU