Yabloko condemns harassment and discrimination of citizens on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity

Statement, 15.01.2019

Since late December 2018, persecution of LGBT people has resumed in the Chechen Republic. According to the Russian LGBT Network, about 40 people were detained, two of whom died of torture.

For the first time, information about participation of law enforcement agencies of the Republic in the systematic prosecution and murder of homosexuals and bisexuals was made public in 2017, but yet the Russian authorities have not conducted an investigation into the crimes committed, despite irrefutable evidence. Thus, the leadership of Russia created the conditions for continuation of violence against Russian citizens.

The Yabloko party strongly condemns persecution and discrimination of citizens on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, considers such actions to be inhuman and throwing our country back for several decades.

We believe that responsibility for these crimes lies not only with the leadership of Chechnya, but also with the federal authorities, as well as the state-owned media, which for years have been fueling enmity and hatred towards the LGBT community. Such policies lead to tragedy – every year dozens of teenagers become victims of harassment leading to suicide. The law on the ban of propaganda of non-traditional relations adopted in 2013 eliminated the constitutional right of men and women to equality before the law, human dignity and privacy. Russia cannot be allowed to become a country where entire groups of people are illegally persecuted with the connivance of or at the suggestion of the authorities.

We demand that all facts of persecution of representatives of the LGBT community be investigated immediately, and that the Chechen leadership is checked for participation in illegal activities. Perpetrators must be punished.

We demand that President Vladimir Putin fulfill his obligations to protect and ensure the constitutional rights of Russian citizens. The President of the country should immediately meet with Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Chechnya, and publicly and firmly declare the inadmissibility of such actions.

We also consider it necessary to repeal all discriminatory laws that prevent millions of Russians from living and working freely in our country. Only by respecting the life, dignity and privacy of citizens, can a country successfully develop in the 21st century.

Emilia Slabunova,

Yabloko Chair