LGBT Network reports kidnapping of Chechen natives in Nizhny Novgorod

Law enforcers are bringing two natives of Chechnya detained in Nizhny Novgorod to Gudermes, the Russian LGBT Network has reported. The detention of young people may have to do with their activeness in the oppositional Telegram channel, David Isteev, the coordinator of the Network's emergency help programme, has suggested.

Salekh Magamadov and minor Ismail were detained by law enforcers on February 4 in their apartment in Nizhny Novgorod, says the message posted on the website of the Russian LGBT Network. "At about 3:00 p.m. Moscow time (on February 4), one of the young men called the above David Isteev and asked for help: the coordinator heard screams of unknown people. Alexander Nemov, an advocate, promptly arrived at the place of residence of Magamadov and [his friend] and found traces of pogrom in the apartment," says the message.

Neighbours said that earlier they saw people in black uniform at the entrance. "The advocate tuned to the police on the fact of kidnapping; and it turned out that the young men had been detained by the police. The advocate was told that Magamadov and [the teenager] were being taken to Gudermes by car," says the message.

In July 2020, activists of the Russian LGBT Network helped Magamadov and his friend to leave Chechnya and move to Nizhny Novgorod. The young men-residents of Chechnya told their advocate that they had been first detained in April 2020. "The detention had to do with their participation as moderators in the oppositional Telegram channel 'Osal nakh 95'. After Magamadov and his friend were tortured and humiliated, videos with their apologies were posted on the Internet," the Russian LGBT Network informs.

It is impossible to contact the detainees, David Isteev, the coordinator of the emergency help programme of the Russian LGBT Network, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 5, 2021 at 00:58 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.