We have now sanctioned over 1200 individuals and entities since Putin's invasion of Ukraine. We are focusing our efforts on those measures which will have the biggest impact. The UK has targeted Russia's political elite, introduced powers to cut off the Russian banking sector from the UK, and introduced restrictive trade measures. We have acted against the people and entities who facilitate the war in Ukraine and the harmful activities of the Russian Government. We will not comment on future sanctions but, as our recent announcements have shown, nothing and no one is off the table.

The UK Government has raised the issue of LGBT rights repeatedly with the Russian Government and made clear that Russia must abide by its international human rights obligations.

We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia, including in Chechnya. In December 2018 the UK was one of 16 countries to invoke the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism, requiring an independent OSCE investigation into reports of serious human rights violations in the region. The OSCE Moscow Mechanism's independent 2018 report confirmed allegations of serious human rights violations in Chechnya 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. 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 2020, Minister Morton raised this with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Titov.

As the Foreign Secretary made clear, the Global Human Rights sanctions regime gives the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses. We will continue to consider designating persons under the Global Human Rights sanctions regulations in order to deter and provide accountability for serious human rights violations or abuses around in the world, as one response among other diplomatic tools.

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.

We remain deeply concerned about the continuing persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya. Persecution for being LGBT, anywhere in the world, is abhorrent. As we state in our Travel Advice, there are credible reports of arrest, torture and extrajudicial killing of LGBT people in Chechnya.

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.

We continue to raise our concerns about the persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya with the Russian Government at all levels. On 17 June 2020, I raised this with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Titov.

We are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Chechnya, including recent reports of renewed persecution of LGBT people. UK officials are not permitted to travel to Chechnya for their own safety so officials have met with human rights organisations operating in the region to discuss these reports. Taken together with detailed reports prepared by credible organisations including LGBT Network and Human Rights Watch, our assessment is that there has been an increase in LGBT persecution in Chechnya.

On 18 March the UK, joined by 31 other countries, delivered a statement to the UN Human Rights Council on the persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya. I also raised this issue directly with my Russian counterpart, First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, in the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February. In November 2018, the UK was one of 16 countries to invoke the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Moscow Mechanism to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in Chechnya. We will continue to urge Russia to follow the recommendations outlined in the report of the Moscow Mechanism.​

We are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Chechnya, and have raised this in several public statements, as well as bilaterally with Russia. The UK, joined by 31 other countries, delivered a statement to the UN Human Rights Council on the persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya on 18 March. I also raised this issue directly with my Russian counterpart, First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, in the margins of the Munich Security Conference in February. On 19 March, the Foreign Secretary publicly called for the release of Chechen human rights activist Oyub Titiev, following his sentencing to four years in prison. In November 2018, the UK was one of 16 countries to invoke the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Moscow Mechanism to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in Chechnya. We will continue to urge Russia to follow the recommendations outlined in the report of the Moscow Mechanism.

The Foreign Secretary and I made clear earlier this month that we are deeply concerned about the recent reports of a renewed wave of persecution of LGBT+ people in Chechnya. Persecution for being LGBT+, in any country in the world, is abhorrent.

Following these renewed reports of persecution, the UK Government has worked closely with international partners to communicate to Russia that persecution of LGBT+ people in Chechnya is completely unacceptable. This includes joint statements from the EU Spokesperson, from the EU to the OSCE (the latter of which Russia is a member of) and the Equal Rights Coalition. We have focused on calling out Russia’s lack of a credible investigation, and impunity for the perpetrators of this persecution. We are now working to sustain this strong and united international response.

As the Foreign Secretary and I made clear earlier this month, we are deeply concerned about recent reports of a renewed wave of persecution of LGBT+ people in Chechnya. Persecution for being LGBT+, in any country in the world, is abhorrent.

Following these renewed reports of persecution, the UK Government has worked closely with international partners to communicate to Russia that persecution of LGBT+ people in Chechnya is completely unacceptable. This includes joint statements from the EU Spokesperson, from the EU to the OSCE (the latter of which Russia is a member of) and the Equal Rights Coalition. We have focused on calling out Russia’s lack of a credible investigation, and impunity for the perpetrators of this persecution. We are now working to sustain this strong and united international response.

The UK Government provides long-term support for LGBT+ rights in Russia. Officials from the British Embassy in Moscow have registered concerns about the situation for LGBT+ people in Chechnya at a senior level with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We currently provide funding to a number of NGOs working to counter violent extremism and promote human rights and the rule of law in the North Caucasus. Since 2015 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have made available significant funding to support LGBT+ rights in Russia.

On 29 November 2018, the Home Office published statistics on asylum claims lodged on the basis or part basis of sexual orientation covering the period 2015 – 2017.

The statistics reflect the claims made by asylum applicants and do not reflect a confirmed sexual orientation basis for a claim. Some individuals applying for asylum may have less reason to mention sexual orientation when making a claim because it may not be a significant factor in their seeking asylum. Such nationalities would be undercounted in these statistics

The statistics can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-september-2018/experimental-statistics-asylum-claims-on-the-basis-of-sexual-orientation.

Chechnyan nationals cannot be identified separately in the data but would be included in the figure for Russia. For Russia, which may also include non Chechnyan nationals, six claims based on LGBT+ issues were received in 2016 and twelve in 2017.

As a signatory to the Refugee Convention, the UK fully considers all asylum claims lodged in the UK. We remain committed to improving the asylum pro-cess for those claiming asylum on the basis of their sexual or gender identity. In the case of considering sexual identity claims, we are confident that our re-vised guidance and dedicated training is thorough and ensures every sexual identity claim decision is scrutinised in depth, either by a senior case worker or Technical Specialist. We do not consider asylum claims lodged outside UK ter-ritory.

We recognise the continuing concerns of key partners domestically and inter-nationally, and we remain committed to continuing engagement with them on this issue

On 29 November 2018, the Home Office published statistics on asylum claims lodged on the basis or part basis of sexual orientation covering the period 2015 – 2017.

The statistics reflect the claims made by asylum applicants and do not reflect a confirmed sexual orientation basis for a claim. Some individuals applying for asylum may have less reason to mention sexual orientation when making a claim because it may not be a significant factor in their seeking asylum. Such nationalities would be undercounted in these statistics

The statistics can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-september-2018/experimental-statistics-asylum-claims-on-the-basis-of-sexual-orientation.

Chechnyan nationals cannot be identified separately in the data but would be included in the figure for Russia. For Russia, which may also include non Chechnyan nationals, six claims based on LGBT+ issues were received in 2016 and twelve in 2017.

As a signatory to the Refugee Convention, the UK fully considers all asylum claims lodged in the UK. We remain committed to improving the asylum pro-cess for those claiming asylum on the basis of their sexual or gender identity. In the case of considering sexual identity claims, we are confident that our re-vised guidance and dedicated training is thorough and ensures every sexual identity claim decision is scrutinised in depth, either by a senior case worker or Technical Specialist. We do not consider asylum claims lodged outside UK ter-ritory.

We recognise the continuing concerns of key partners domestically and inter-nationally, and we remain committed to continuing engagement with them on this issue

The UK remains deeply concerned by the disappearance of Zelim Bakaev and the persecution of many other individuals in Chechnya due to their sexual orientation. Together with our international partners, we continue to raise our serious concerns with the Russian authorities in a number of multilateral fora – including the UN, Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the release and safe return of all those abducted and urging them to investigate fully and bring those responsible to justice.

​Both the Foreign Secretary and I raised our concerns about the human rights situation in Russia, with an emphasis on Chechnya, during our respective visits to Moscow in December. The government has not had any direct discussions with the Chechen authorities.

We provide financial and moral support to NGOs and civil society across Russia at a time when they are facing growing pressure. We currently provide funding to a number of NGOs working to counter violent extremism and promote human rights and the rule of law in North Caucasus. The Foreign Secretary received a briefing from these organisations as part of his visit to Moscow on 22 December.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing persecution of members of the LGBT community in Chechnya. We and our partners will continue to urge Russia to follow through with their commitment to investigate these abuses and hold those responsible to account. We also call on Russia to uphold its international commitments and protect all its citizens from persecution.

We continue to have significant concerns about the use of collective punishment in Chechnya, including the burning down of houses of the relatives of suspected militants. We encourage Russia to implement European Court of Human Rights judgments relating to the North Caucasus – a vital step to ending the climate of impunity in the region. The UK will continue to call for action on individual cases in multilateral fora, such as the Council of Europe.

​We remain concerned by the continued detention of Oyub Titiev. The Foreign Secretary expressed our concerns on 11 January, and the Minister for Europe and the Americas issued a statement on 18 January calling for the authorities to ensure Mr Titiev's safety and his right to a fair trial. Together with our partners, we will continue to reiterate this message to the Russian authorities. I made this assurance to representatives from the Russian non-governmental organisation Memorial when I met them on 21 February.

​We are providing financial and moral support to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society across Russia at a time when they are facing growing pressure. We currently provide funding to a number of NGOs working to counter violent extremism and promote human rights and the rule of law in the North Caucasus.