By Daria Litvinova

MOSCOW, Jan 15 (Openly) - The European Parliament urged Russia on Tuesday to investigate claims LGBT+ people in Chechnya are being detained and tortured, following reports of a fresh crackdown in the region.

The Russian LGBT Network, a rights group, said this week it had heard reports of "monstrous torture" of detainees in the predominantly Muslim region in recent weeks

The allegations, which drew a swift denial from the local government, have sparked concern following a widely reported crackdown in Chechnya in 2017 in which more than 100 gay men were rounded up.

"We cannot wait until more people are detained, tortured and killed," said Sophie in't Veld, vice-president of the European Parliament's working group on LGBT+ rights, in a statement.

"It is about time Russia listens to the multiple recommendations and requests from the international community, starts an investigation and puts an end to these human rights violations." Read more via Openly