Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has publicly declared that he aims to get rid of all gay people in Chechnya by the start of Ramadan.
The Muslim holiday begins on May 26th and is widely celebrated in the Chechen region where the majority of the population are Muslim.
Britain’s Deputy Foreign Secretary, Sir Alan Duncan, revealed the claim in Britain’s parliament. The Foreign Office has confirmed that the British government had confirmed the threat which Kadyrov made to local Russian media.
“Human rights groups report that these anti-gay campaigns and killings are orchestrated by the head of the Chechen republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.
“He has carried out other violent campaigns in the past, and this time he is directing his efforts at the LGBT community.” Sir Alan Duncan told the United Kingdom’s parliament.
“Sources have said that he wants the [LGBT] community eliminated by the start of Ramadan.”
“Such comments, attitudes and actions are absolutely beyond contemptible.” The minister added.
The claim the the Chechen leader had open spoken about removing LGBT people from the region follows several statements he’s recently made denying media reports that gay people were being detained, tortured and murdered in the region.
Earlier today reports emerged from men who detailed their experiences at the hands of authorities in The Chechen Republic. The men said they were beaten and electrocuted with their captors demanding the names of other gay men.
Reports that over one hundred men had been detained, including three who were allegedly murdered, first surfaced in Russian newspapers at the beginning of the month.
OIP Staff
