LGBT activist in Stavropol complains of receiving new threats

Artyom Shitukhin, an LGBT activist, has stated that he began receiving threats after his personal data got into the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in early 2019, Artyom Shitukhin, the board chairman of the North-Caucasian LGBT Solidarity Movement, announced his expulsion from the higher school. He linked it with his activities to draw attention to discrimination of gays in Chechnya.

After the activist applied to the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) in connection with the threats of unknown persons, who presented themselves to be members of the homophobic association "Pila" (Saw), they began stating that they knew the whereabouts of the activist.

Valery Ledovskoy, the leader of the Stavropol branch of the "Yabloko" Party, stood in defence of Artyom Shitukhin.

According to Mr Ledovskoy, the bosses of the higher school expressed claims to Artyom in connection with his public activities to protect the rights of people with non-traditional sexual orientation, while law enforcers warned him that he might face problems.

Let us remind you that on January 11, the "Novaya Gazeta" reported another wave of gay persecutions in Chechnya. According to the Russian LGBT Network, since December 2018, two people were killed in the republic.