Cross Party MPs Call on Government to Condemn Violence Against LGBTI Community in Chechnya

The Rainbow NZ Parliamentary Network, a cross-party group of MPs, has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs calling on him to ask Russia to investigate the detention and alleged murders of (perceived) gay men in Chechnya.

“The stories we are hearing from Chechnya are deeply disturbing,” said Green Party MP Jan Logie. “The Rainbow NZ Parliamentary Network wants to publicly restate our commitment to human rights for all, and calls on the Government to show leadership and publicly condemn this violent persecution.”

“There needs to be an immediate halt to the violence against the LGBTI community within Russian borders and the release of those detained,” said Labour MP Louisa Wall. “The Russian Government must urgently investigate the arbitrary detention, torture and extra judicial killing of (perceived) gay and bisexual men in Chechnya.”

National Party MP Paul Foster Bell added that “reports of extrajudicial killings and concentration camps of (perceived) gay and bisexual men require us to raise our voices. This kind of violence needs to be quickly and clearly condemned.”

David Seymour, Act Party Leader, also said, “Comments from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov that gay people don’t exist in his country are ludicrous and dangerous. We strongly urge the Minister and other world leaders to use whatever peaceful means they can to defend Chechen men’ rights to self-expression, life and liberty.”

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