Chechnya is Rounding Up Gay People Into Concentration Camps – Here is How You Can Help Stop It

Here at the Escort Scotland blog, we like to keep things fun. Yes, we have serious articles about sexual health and such things, but the subject matter is normally light hearted, and we delight in giving our readers a chance to get away from the worries of the world. However, this story coming from Chechnya regarding the alleged arrest and detaining of gay people in concentration camps is a story I feel we need to speak out on.

A view of Grozny city from the neighboring tower

Around 100 men have been apprehended in the region and put in camps for LGBT people for the first time since the Nazis were in power. Some are believed to have been killed whilst they were there.

Forced Emigration

The country is said to be using the camps as a way of forcing gay people to leave the republic.

This all seems to be a reaction to the application for a gay mar rights march in Grozny. Needless to say, that wasn’t allowed, and it seems the Kadyrov government ‘realised they had a problem’.

Russian group LGBT Network said: ‘No national and/or religious traditions and norms can justify kidnapping or killing of a human being.

“Any references to ‘traditions’ to justify kidnappings and killings are amoral and criminal.”

They added: “The Russian LGBT Network is ready to evacuate people.”

Alexander Artemyev from Amnesty International Russia told Metro.co.uk: “This case is one of the most difficult we ever dealt with.”

Although there is no independent verification these camps exist, Artemyev said “Given the very homophobic environment and “honour killing” practices in Chechnya it’s almost impossible to get any verified information as people are too afraid to talk.

“That’s why we have called on Russian authorities to take all measures possible to investigate the allegations made by the Novaya Gazeta informants, meanwhile we make every effort to obtain as much information as we can.”

It is even stated that some gay people have been killed in these camps. This quote is from Svetlana Zakharova of the Russian LGBT Network.

The Chechen government deny these concentration camps exist. Speaking on behalf of the Chechen leader, Ali Karimov, told RIA Novosti: “It is impossible to persecute those who are not in the republic.”

Adding to Interfax News Agency: “If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them, as their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return.”

Wow, that does show a great attitude to homosexuals, doesn’t it.

What Can I Do To Help?

It is allright us sat here virtue signalling about how this is sick, but the question is, what can we really do to help? Well, there is an answer to that one.

Apparently you can join Amnesty International’s ‘Urgent Action on Chechnya‘ project.

People are encouraged to write in Russian or their own language to the Chairman of the Investigation Committee and Acting Head of the Investigation Committee for the Chechen Republic.

Amnesty also say the letter should ask for an investigation and appeal for protection for LGBT individuals. It should also be copied into Human Rights groups and diplomatic missions from your own country.

Maybe if we all should loud enough, something can be done about this abomination.

Martin Ward
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