Chechnya Continues to Massacre Gay Community, Denies that “Gays” Exist”

 The genocide of homosexuals in Chechnya has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and worldwide nations alike. In an interview earlier this year, Chechnya’s president, Razman Kadyrov, has denied the existence of homosexuality in Chechnya. Meanwhile Chechnya’s persecution of homosexuals continues and has even spread to Chechen communities throughout Europe. 

A small nation that was formally part of the USSR, Chechnya has suffered economic hardships after its conflicts with Russia during the 1990’s. Homosexuals, especially gay men had faced continuous risk in Chechnya, which is under a conservative Muslim government. 

During the events of last winter had reached the press as well as the Human Rights Watch as the Chechen government began conducting “sweeps” and arresting homosexuals while encouraging families to “take care of the problem” in the name of honor if someone in the household was gay. 

Thousands of men were imprisoned and those who could, fled the country to seek asylum in Europe. The persecution continues, however, with reports that even the international Chechen community is out to beat and kill Chechen men who are suspected to be homosexual. 

Survivors of the arrests have spoken to the media describing hours of torture and days without food and water. Media reports of dozens of detention facilities where people are being held for weeks at a time have surfaced. 

A public outcry has largely been left unanswered as Kremlin, Russia’s government center has declined to act. Also notably absent is any action from the US government, which, in May, had denied Visas to gay Chechens seeking asylum. Many European countries, however, did answer the call to accept gay Chechen refugees as humanitarian organizations scramble to aid and evacuate victims.