Human Rights First created a video in partnership with with RUSA LGBT—The Russian Speaking American LGBT Association, featuring personal accounts from survivors of the gay camps in Chechnya.
“The video features stories from survivors of the Chechen camps who have made it out to safety. Read by gay Russian asylees in the United States, the messages, we hope, will drive home for viewers how horrifying the situation truly is,” says HRF.
Added Human Rights First’s Shawn Gaylord:
“Gay men are being treated like animals. They’re rounded up, they’re detained, they’re tortured, a few have been murdered. All of this has been inflicted upon them by the very people sworn to protect them. The world needs to act. We’re calling on the administration and Congress to speak out against these horrific human rights abuses. The stories coming from those lucky enough to survive and make it out are harrowing. We felt that by sharing them we could put this nightmare in perspective for the many people that have only read about it in a newspaper. We partnered with gay Russian men from the Russian-Speaking American LGBT Association because who better to share these accounts than those who have fled similar persecution. Our hope is that this will drive action, our hope is that it will help achieve justice.”
