In an under-reported news story of atrocities in the former Russian Republic. the UN is now getting involved.
It is crucial that reports of abductions, unlawful detentions, torture, beatings and killings of men perceived to be gay or bisexual are investigated thoroughly," the experts said in a statement posted on the website for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
At least 100 men have been detained on the basis of their sexual orientation. Some reports indicate many of those arrested have been tortured, in some cases leading to death.
I have not heard a single word from this from tRump. This is not shocking, but still a comment on the sad state of affairs both in the world and of the United State’s president.
At least the State Department has gotten involved:
“We urge the Russian government to conduct an independent and credible investigation into the alleged killings and mass arrests, and hold the perpetrators responsible,” said the State Department statement, provided to media outlets
In case you missed it however the Russians, well the Russians….
"We are unaware of any reports to the police or any complaints filed to them from the representatives of non-traditional sexual orientation regarding this. Maybe I'm mistaken and maybe some reports took place, but at least I haven't read anything about it. This information has to get verified," Peskov said.
He added that he was not aware of any investigation under way by Russian police about the alleged disappearances or detentions.
The rest of the world is not so quiet as is the US. In London hundreds have taken to the streets to protest.
And in Chechnya itself? No surprise but officials are denying such acts are happening, because there are no gays in Chechnya
...spokesman for the Chechen government, Alvi Karimov, told the Russian news agency Interfax that the story in Novaya Gazeta was "an absolute lie."
But Karimov's fuller explanation underlined the deeply conservative and intolerant views of the republic's leadership.
"You can't detain and harass someone who doesn't exist in the republic," he said.
"If there were such people in the Chechen republic, law enforcement wouldn't have a problem with them because their relatives would send them to a place of no return.
So we *NEED* the world to act to stop this torture. The United States could and should do more.
We should all demand tRump himself gets involved in this horror. He cannot deny he knows of these atrocities as the United States department statement shows.
Thank G-d for people such as Joe Biden who has insisted that tRump get involved.