Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination

Rapporteur : Mr Piet De BRUYN, Belgium, NR

Origin - Reference to committee: Doc. 14313, Reference 4304 of 30 June 2017. 2018 - Third part-session

Summary

On 1 April 2017, the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta published its first report on a campaign of persecution against LGBTI people in the Chechen Republic, including cases of abduction, arbitrary detention and torture of men presumed to be gay, with the direct involvement of Chechen law-enforcement officials. This campaign unfolded against the backdrop of serious, systematic and widespread discrimination and harassment of LGBTI people.

The very existence of LGBTI people in the Chechen Republic has been denied by Chechen and Russian public officials. To date, no substantive investigation has been conducted. More than 114 LGBTI people and members of their families have fled the Chechen Republic.

Protecting all people from torture, degrading treatment, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and ultimately extra-judicial killings, irrespective of their origin, colour, age, gender or sexual orientation, is one of the founding principles behind the creation of the Council of Europe. Its member States should therefore provide international protection to LGBTI people fleeing persecution in the Chechen Republic, as well as their families and witnesses. There can be no impunity for the perpetrators of this campaign of persecution. The Parliamentary Assembly should call for an effective and impartial investigation to be conducted. Read more via Parliament

Read the full report

ILGA-Europe Statement on the Report

28 June 2018

For immediate release

The first comprehensive report issued by an international organisation on the widespread human rights abuses inflicted on the LGBTI communities in Chechnya was adopted last night.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted the Report on the Persecution of LGBTI people in the Chechen Republic (Russian Federation) compiled by Piet De Bruyn, General Rapporteur on the rights of LGBTI people.

The report was adopted unopposed (with 33 votes in favour and one abstention).

ILGA-Europe welcome this important report (the first of its kind from an international organisation) on concerted persecution of LGBT people (and those perceived to be LGBTI) perpetrated by authorities in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation over a year ago.

“Not only is the report (on which the final PACE resolution is based) the first of its kind from an international institution, it’s a critical reminder for the world that the repression of the LGBTI communities in Chechnya is not over.” saidEvelyne Paradis, ILGA-Europe Executive Director in reaction to the vote.

“A full independent investigation, carried out without delay – that is what is still urgently needed. And this report is unequivocal: if the Russian authorities do not act, then the international community must conduct such an investigation. We commend Piet de Bruyn on his dedication and for bringing the voices of LGBTI people in Chechnya back into the spotlight.”

The report is based on first-hand accounts, interviews with victims, civil society organisations, investigative journalists, as well as secondary sources, such as NGO and media reports. It recognises that the “anti-gay purge was unique in its magnitude and its horror”, expresses regret that the Russian state has not conducted an investigation despite overwhelming evidence regarding the perpetration of these crimes.

One victim has lodged a formal complaint, documenting the harassment and violence that they suffered. The PACE report emphasises that this does not absolve the Russian authorities of their responsibility to conduct a thorough investigation into the broader persecution campaigns.

It calls on the international community to (should the lack of action on part of the Russian authorities continue) conduct an investigation independently to ensure that no impunity exists for perpetrators, and thus prevent the risk of spill-over to other nations. The report also highlights the link between the persecutions and the existence of the so-called anti-gay propaganda legislation in Russia, which “contributes to stigmatising LGBTI people and creating a fertile ground for hatred”, and calls on the Council of Europe to renew calls for this law to be repealed.

Furthermore, the report calls on member states of the Council of Europe to welcome asylum seekers from Chechnya to ensure the safety of victims and their families, as well as all LGBTI people living in a republic the leader of which aims to “cleanse the nation of all deviations”.

ILGA-Europe joins the calls made in the Report on the Persecution of LGBTI people in the Chechen Republic, and urges governments to ensure that the horrific human rights violations perpetrated by authorities in Chechnya against (perceived) LGBTI people are not forgotten.

///ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Emma Cassidy, ILGA-Europe Senior Communications and Media Officer, emma@ilga-europe.org; +32 2 609 56 50

Notes for editors:

ILGA-Europe is the European Region of ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and works for human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans & intersex people in Europe. ILGA-Europe represents over 400 member organisations in 45 European countries: www.ilga-europe.org
For up-to-date information on the legal and policy situation for LGBTI people in Europe, visit our Rainbow Europe Module: www.rainbow-europe.org
Background to the report:

The persecutions were first publicly documented on 1 April 2017 by Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. The abuses included abduction, arbitrary detention, torture and even killing, of over a hundred (perceived) gay men, and several LBT persons.

In total, over 300 people were affected, and over a hundred fled the republic. At least three people were confirmed to have died as a result of the torture they experienced, with several others suspected of being killed by their families in so-called honour killings.

Yet, over a year later, no investigation has been conducted by the Russian authorities despite overwhelming evidence.

The report by Piet de Bruyn is available here: http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-DocDetails-EN.asp?FileID=24805&lang=EN
The final resolution as adopted on 27 June is available here: http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-DocDetails-EN.asp?fileid=24962&lang=EN&search=KjoqfHB1Ymxpc2hkYXRlOltOT1cvREFZLTFNT05USFMgVE8gKl0=

Emma Cassidy
Senior Communications and Media Officer
ILGA-Europe
Direct line: + 32 2 609 56 50