Chechen authorities not aware about appeals of Chechen gays for visas

The "Russian LGBT Network" has reported on evacuation of 43 homosexuals from Chechnya. Of them, nine gays already stay abroad. Alvi Karimov, the spokesman for the leader of Chechnya, has stated that he is not aware about the appeals for visas filed by Chechen natives with non-conventional sexual orientation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 18, Igor Kochetkov, the leader of the "Russian LGBT Network", reported that the gay detentions in Chechnya had been stopped.

The human rights defenders intend to seek the granting of foreign visas to several dozen homosexuals from Chechnya, who were evacuated from the republic, reports the press service of the "Russian LGBT Network". It has also added that the negotiations are underway with at least five countries concerning issuing visas for homosexuals from Chechnya.

The victims, who are in a psychologically difficult situation, still mistrust the human rights defenders, notes a member of the "Russian LGBT Network". He has also added that many of the above mentioned 43 people were imprisoned in Chechnya and subjected to torture, the "Interfax" reports.

The website of the "Russian LGBT Network" reports that the NGO continues raising funds to finance the evacuation of homosexuals from Chechnya. The amount of raised funds reaches 176,000 US dollars, including donations received from the "All Out", "Enough is Enough" and "Campaign against Homophobia", Germany (Aktionsbündnis gegen Homophobie), "COC Netherlands", "Amnesty International" (AI) and "The Network", Switzerland.

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