Fifty Amnesty International activists, working with RainbowHouse, ILGA-Europe, Belgian Pride, Çavaria and Arc-en-Ciel Wallonie, demonstrated in front of the Russian embassy in Brussels on Friday. The demonstration was aimed at demanding that the persecution of gay men in the Chechen Republic of Russia is stopped. Demonstrators covered their heads with black hoods and waved rainbow flags. They then submitted a petition with some 30,000 signatures requesting the Russian and Chechen authorities to carry out prompt, independent and impartial investigations into allegations of kidnappings and homicides of men perceived as homosexuals in Chechnya.
The object of this petition is to obtain from the Russian and Chechen authorities a guarantee of safety for anyone who may be in danger in Chechnya because of their sexual orientation.
The action is part of the global action day organised by Amnesty International. Demonstrations will take place in front of the embassies of Russia in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Ukraine. On this occasion, over half a million signatures worldwide will be handed over to the Russian and Chechen authorities.
The Brussels Times
