Life of Mikhail Pischevsky celebrated at ILGA-Europe Annual Conference
LGBTI activists from all over Europe celebrated the life of Mikhail Pischevsky this afternoon (Saturday, 31 October 2015).
Print HTMLOn the final day of ILGA-Europe’s largest ever conference, attendees acknowledged the news that Mikhail died earlier this week and celebrated his life with a minute of applause.
“The entire ILGA-Europe family was deeply saddened to learn of Mikhail’s death on Tuesday. Reports like this are becoming all too common; it brings Saturday’s conference workshop on the needs of hate crime victims into stark perspective." said ILGA-Europe’s Co Chair Joyce Hamilton.
Following a violent homophobic attack that took place in Minsk in May 2014, Mikhail Pischevsky died on Tuesday, 27 October 2015. Mikhail was left in a permanent vegetative state after the physical attack outside a nightclub in the Belarusian capital, during which he was also subjected to homophobic abuse. The perpetrator served 11 months in prison after being convicted with hooliganism and serious bodily assault by recklessness.
“This horrible event is a symbol of a much wider problem. Homophobic and transphobic hate crime is not just a concern for the authorities in Belarus; it is a major concern for all European countries. I want to send my sympathy to Mikhail’s family and friends.” said Chairperson of Belarusian Human Rights ‘Identity’, Natallia Mankouskaya.
