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<\/p>\nChechnya President Fires Back at Reports That a \u2018Purge\u2019 of Gay Men is Underway<\/b><\/p>\n
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The leader of the southern Russian republic of Chechnya attacked international human rights organizations over the weekend, accusing them of spreading falsehoods regarding the detention, torture, and possible murder of hundreds of gay<\/a> men<\/a> in the country.<\/p>\n The AP reports<\/a>:<\/p>\n Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said on his social media account Sunday that he had met with the region\u2019s human rights council and proclaimed that rights have undergone a \u201cgrandiose\u201d improvement in Muslim-majority Chechnya.<\/p>\n Kadyrov says international organizations are conducting a \u201cmassive information attack \u2026 using the most unworthy methods, reality is distorted, attempts are being made to blacken our society, lifestyle, traditions and customs.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, crime Russia reports on a meeting between \u201cChechen clergy leaders and public figures\u201d in the country over the situation<\/a> (a bit of a tough translation, but quite a bit to read here \u2013 Novaya Gazeta was the paper that first broke the gay<\/a> detention story):<\/p>\n At the conclusion of the meeting, a resolution was adopted declaring information about \u2018cleansing\u2019 gays<\/a> in Chechnya \u201cabsolute lies and slander\u201d. And its second point, according to the editors of Novaya Gazeta, states open calls<\/a> for violence. The CrimeRussia quotes it unchanged.<\/p>\n \u201cIn view of the insult to the centuries-old foundations of Chechen society and the dignity of Chechen men<\/a>, as well as our faith, we promise that the retribution will overtake true instigators, wherever and whomever they are, without a statute of limitations.\u201d<\/p>\n In the fourth paragraph of the resolution, the meeting calls<\/a> on \u201cevery sensible person to fight the spread of such baseness and provocation in all possible ways,\u201d but it is noted in brackets that \u201cpossible ways\u201d should be \u201clawful\u201d.<\/p>\n Novaya Gazeta stresses that the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe resolution \u201cpushes religious fanatics towards massacre of journalists\u201d.+<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In its statement, the editorial staff urges the Russian authorities to give a legal assessment of the High Assembly of Islamic theologians and leaders of public opinion in Chechnya resolution and \u201cdo everything possible to stop actions aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards journalists fulfilling their professional duties.\u201d<\/p>\n Also in its statement the editors of Novaya Gazeta draw the attention of the authorities to the inaction of the Investigative Committee (ICR). 10 days since the publication of the facts on mass persecution of Chechen inhabitants because of their homosexual orientation expired on April 10, the newspaper notes.<\/p>\n According to the law, the ICR must respond to a report of a crime within ten days. In addition, on April 8, Novaya Gazeta editor in chief Dmitry Muratov appealed to Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika with a demand to oblige the ICR of the Russian Federation to verify the facts testifying to the commission of serious crimes.<\/p>\n But as by April 11, there was no any Investigative Committee\u2019s reaction; lawyer of the Agora international human rights organization Andrey Sabinin filed a complaint with the Moscow Basmanny Court. The human rights activist demanded to recognize the inaction of ICR Chairman Alexander Bastrykin unreasonable and illegal and oblige him to eliminate the violation.<\/p>\n The post Chechnya President Fires Back at Reports That a \u2018Purge\u2019 of Gay Men is Underway<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\nRELATED:\u00a0Joe Biden: \u2018I am Disgusted and Appalled\u2019 by Reports of Torture and Murder of Gay Men in Chechnya<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nRELATED:\u00a0UN Human Rights Experts Call on Russia to End \u2018Unprecedented\u2019 Violence Against Gay Men in Chechnya<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n