Mogherini demands to protect gays’ rights in Chechnya

The issue of respect for human rights in Russia was discussed at the talks with Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, in Moscow, Federica Mogherini, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said at her final press conference.

According to her story, prior to meeting Mr Lavrov, she "met rights defenders and civil society activists, where they discussed the status of human rights in Russia."

"As for the issues of the gay community in Chechnya, we have told the Russian government that it is a part of their responsibilities – to defend their citizens. Yes, we believe that the Russian authorities bear direct responsibility for the protection of their citizens," the RBC quotes Ms Mogherini as saying.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 1, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reported about mass detentions in Chechnya of men suspected of unconventional sexual orientation. Later, the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reported with reference to gays persecuted in Chechnya that in Argun, a "secret prison" had been arranged for people with unconventional sexual orientation. According to the "Radio Liberty", another similar prison, where members of sexual minorities are beaten and humiliated, is located in the Chechen village of Tsotsi-Yurt.

In his turn, Sergey Lavrov said that "there is no confirmed information about violations of the rights of the LGBT community in the Chechen Republic."

"We would prefer that the European Union, if it really wants to establish the truth, first wait for confirmation of information, prior to making such harsh judgments... As for specific concerns about what happens to people from the LGBT category in Chechnya or any other part of the Russian Federation, any facts, not suspicions, will be immediately investigated; Russian authorities have repeatedly stated this," Sergey Lavrov said at the concluding press conference after his talks with Federica Mogherini.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.