LGBTI equality and human rights in Europe and Central Asia

New PACE report adopted on Chechnya

The first comprehensive report issued by an international organisation on the widespread human rights abuses inflicted on the LGBTI communities in Chechnya was adopted on 27 June 2018. 

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.” said Evelyne Paradis, ILGA-Europe Executive Director in reaction to the vote.



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.