The Guardian has corroborated the mistreatment from gay men who have escaped Chechnya.
All refused to give their real names for fear of someone recognising them and tracking them down.
Chechnya is a conservative society where homosexuality is considered taboo, and gays are at risk of being killed by relatives.
Reports that Chechen authorities are engaged in a purge of gay men - kidnapping and imprisoning them secretly - emerged late last month.
Some of the more than 100 suspected gay men said to have been held in secret detention centres have undergone forced disappearances, while others were returned to their families with severe injuries after torture and humiliation.
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov (a man who has multiple videos of himself working out and who is very affectionate with other men) has called the reports a "massive information attack" conducted by global organizations.
A spokesman for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has not only denied the persecution, but also the very existence, of gay men in Chechnya.
President Kadyrov introduced Islamic rule in Chechnya. Human Rights Watch has received numerous reports of harassment from within Chechnya that are consistent with Novaya Gayetza's reporting. A member of the HRC under the head of the republic, Kheda Saratova noted that there were no claims about the loss of people and the murder, and if there were, "she would not consider a homosexual homicide".
US Defense Secretary Mattis addresses confusion over carrier
The U.S.is trying to ratchet up pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. But after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, Trump concluded that "it's not so easy".
While Ilya is now more than 1,800 kilometres (1,120 miles) from the Chechen capital of Grozny, he still jumps up every time a auto drives close by the house, which is surrounded by a fence. "They told us we were 'dogs who don't have a right to live.' The whole time you sit there are listen to the screams of people who are being tortured". A huge scar runs along the side of his jaw. "They will kill me themselves", the second man added.
But after that he had to flee to Moscow anyway.
But the strong allegations emerging from Chechnya are unprecedented and have provoked an global backlash.
In March he was held "in an unofficial prison" for a week, the man said.
Human Rights Watch later confirmed the horrific reports, adding that the information coming through was "consistent" with "numerous trusted sources" they had spoken to on the ground in Russian Federation.
Moskalkova also revealed that several foreign officials had contacted her to inquire about the reports from Chechnya - including the British ambassador and the UN High Reperesentative for Human Rights.
"We are against all forms of discrimination, including against people based on sexual orientation", she continued.
Novaya Gazeta has said it considers the call an open threat against its staff.
Comments