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Written question asked by Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Conservative) on Monday, 6 July 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 July 2020. It was answered by Baroness Sugg (Conservative) on Monday, 13 July 2020 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Chechnya: LGBT+ People

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what discussions they have had with, and (2) what assurances they have sought from, the government of Russia about the treatment of LGBT people in the Chechen Republic since 2018.

Answer

We remain deeply concerned about the continuing persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya. The UK Government has raised this issue repeatedly with the Russian Government and made clear that Russia must abide by its international human rights obligations. On 17 June, the Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas raised our concerns with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Titov.

In December 2018, the UK was one of 16 countries to invoke the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism, requiring an independent OSCE investigation. The OSCE Moscow Mechanism's independent 2018 report confirmed allegations of serious human rights violations in Chechnya against LGBT people and other groups including unlawful detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. We continue to urge Russia to implement the recommendations made in the Moscow Mechanism report and to end the climate of impunity for human rights abusers in Chechnya.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL6495
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Chechnya LGBT+ people
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk