Police Department No. 3 in the Staropromyslovsky District of Grozny refused to open a criminal case on behalf of Aminat Lorsanova concerning assault and forced medical treatment. Lorsanova’s report was registered in March but the review carried out by the Chechen Interior Ministry’s office had already ended in February, according to the document.
On August 28, the prosecutor of the Central District of St. Petersburg, Petr Zaburko, submitted an administrative request to the Smolny District Court requesting to block the Russian LGBT-network website. The reason provided is the publication of the information regarding a survey dedicated to bullying of LGBT youth in schools. The lawsuit is filed in relation to a financial operator of Russian LGBT-network – Legal and Social Support Charitable Foundation “Sphere”.
On July 14, a draft bill was submitted to the State Duma to "Amend the Family Code of the Russian Federation with the aim of strengthening the family institution". The Board of the Russian LGBT Network considers this draft bill discriminatory, violating the principle of equality of all individuals under the law and going against the spirit of the Constitution. The Board of the Russian LGBT Network is calling upon the Russian civil society and all acting LGBT+ rights organizations and advocacy groups to unite and oppose the changes together.
52 Russian and International human rights organizations (including the Russian LGBT Network) signed the statement about the fact that Russia jeopardize online freedoms all over the world. The representative of Article 19 delivered the Statement at the session of the UN Human Rights Council in Genève.
On May 19th, GENDERDOC-M organized the annual march of equality in Chișinău, under the campaign Fără Frică de Iubire(Without the fear to love). However, unlike the last years’ experience, the march that included approximately 350 participants was able to reach its destination without being attacked and evacuated halfway through the route. The Ministry of Interior provided all necessary protections for the participants and despite the aggressive outbursts of the counter-protestors, the Pride march was not exposed to any violence.
A year has passed since the publication of first testimonies of LGBT people that faced persecution in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. However the unlawful detentions, humiliation and torture of LGBT people in Northern Caucasus persist. There are some things one can do to support the victims of the state-organized persecutions of LGBT in Chechnya.
