This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-gay-rights-lgbt-chechnya-persecution-st-petersburg-may-day-protest-a7711531.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Russian police round up LGBT activists demonstrating against persecution of gay men in Chechnya | Russian police round up LGBT activists demonstrating against persecution of gay men in Chechnya |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Russian police have detained LGBT activists attempting to raise awareness about the persecution of gay men in Chechnya. | Russian police have detained LGBT activists attempting to raise awareness about the persecution of gay men in Chechnya. |
The demonstration was held during a May Day march in St Petersburg, with a group of around 10 protesters arrested near the Anichkov Bridge in the centre of Russia’s second city. | |
Images shared on Twitter showed activists lying on the road pretending to be dead, with fake blood smeared across their faces and covered with rainbow and Chechen flags. | Images shared on Twitter showed activists lying on the road pretending to be dead, with fake blood smeared across their faces and covered with rainbow and Chechen flags. |
Officers in riot gear were shown arresting protesters and dragging them to a police van. | Officers in riot gear were shown arresting protesters and dragging them to a police van. |
A separate group of gay-rights protesters were detained with placards that called for the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, to be tried at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. | A separate group of gay-rights protesters were detained with placards that called for the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, to be tried at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. |
One activist was taken away in an ambulance after he appeared to have fainted. | One activist was taken away in an ambulance after he appeared to have fainted. |
The action was in protest at the systemic persecution of gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya. | The action was in protest at the systemic persecution of gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya. |
More than 100 men have been rounded up and detained in secret prisons by authorities in recent weeks, with many beaten and tortured, the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta claimed. | More than 100 men have been rounded up and detained in secret prisons by authorities in recent weeks, with many beaten and tortured, the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta claimed. |
At least four are alleged to have been killed. | At least four are alleged to have been killed. |
A spokesman for Mr Kadyrov said the report was “absolute lies and disinformation” and claimed gay people did not exist in the state. | A spokesman for Mr Kadyrov said the report was “absolute lies and disinformation” and claimed gay people did not exist in the state. |
“You cannot detain and persecute people who simply do not exist in the republic,” he told Interfax news agency. | “You cannot detain and persecute people who simply do not exist in the republic,” he told Interfax news agency. |
“If there were such people in Chechnya, the law-enforcement organs wouldn’t need to have anything to do with them because their relatives would send them somewhere from which there is no returning.” | “If there were such people in Chechnya, the law-enforcement organs wouldn’t need to have anything to do with them because their relatives would send them somewhere from which there is no returning.” |
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has backed the Chechen government’s denials that men suspected of being gay are being detained, tortured and killed. | Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has backed the Chechen government’s denials that men suspected of being gay are being detained, tortured and killed. |
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is scathing about the Russian government treatment of LGBT citizens. | Human Rights Watch (HRW) is scathing about the Russian government treatment of LGBT citizens. |
The group accuses the Kremlin of “failing in their obligation to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence”. | The group accuses the Kremlin of “failing in their obligation to prevent and prosecute homophobic violence”. |
“Growing numbers of LGBT people have been attacked and harassed across Russia in the lead-up and aftermath of the adoption of the federal anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ law in June 2013. | “Growing numbers of LGBT people have been attacked and harassed across Russia in the lead-up and aftermath of the adoption of the federal anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ law in June 2013. |
“The law effectively legalised discrimination against LGBT people and cast them as second-class citizens.” | “The law effectively legalised discrimination against LGBT people and cast them as second-class citizens.” |
In interviews it conducted with gay and lesbian Russians, HRW said LGBT people described being "physically attacked by strangers during their everyday activities". | In interviews it conducted with gay and lesbian Russians, HRW said LGBT people described being "physically attacked by strangers during their everyday activities". |
The May Day march in St Petersburg was one of dozens around the world. | The May Day march in St Petersburg was one of dozens around the world. |
In many countries, including Turkey, Cambodia, the Philippines and Bangladesh, workers took to the streets to protest about poor conditions and pay. | In many countries, including Turkey, Cambodia, the Philippines and Bangladesh, workers took to the streets to protest about poor conditions and pay. |
In Greece, several thousand protesters gathered outside the parliament to rally against draconian public spending limits. | In Greece, several thousand protesters gathered outside the parliament to rally against draconian public spending limits. |
Previous version
1
Next version