Nikki Haley: Detentions and Killings of Gays in Chechnya a ‘Violation of Human Rights’ That ‘Cannot Be Ignored’

‘We Are Against All Forms of Discrimination, Including Against People Based on Sexual Orientation’

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley Monday evening issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the attacks on gay men in Chechnya, where they are reportedly being held, tortured, and murdered in concentration camps. Haley called for an immediate investigation.

“We continue to be disturbed by reports of kidnapping, torture, and murder of people in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation and those persecuted by association,” Haley said in an official statement. “If true, this violation of human rights cannot be ignored – Chechen authorities must immediately investigate these allegations, hold anyone involved accountable, and take steps to prevent future abuses.”

The Ambassador went further, issuing a policy and drawing a line in the sand.

“We are against all forms of discrimination, including against people based on sexual orientation. When left unchecked, discrimination and human rights abuses can lead to destabilization and conflict,” she noted.

“Tomorrow, the United States will lead a first-ever meeting on human rights in international conflicts in the UN Security Council to underscore our commitment to addressing human rights abuses wherever they threaten international peace and security.”

The reporter who first broke the story that gay men are being detained, tortured, and murdered in Chechen concentration camps has been forced to flee Moscow after threats, and is looking to flee Russia entirely.

Late last week the Kremlin denied having any credible information of the concentration camps or attacks on gay men. Homophobia is very strong in Russia. The head of Chechnya,Ramzan Kadyrov, is strongly tied to Vladimir Putin. Kadyrov’s administration has claimed there can be no camps because there are no gay men in the region.

“You cannot arrest or repress people who just don’t exist in the republic,” a spokesperson said. “If such people existed in Chechnya, law enforcement would not have to worry about them, as their own relatives would have sent them to where they could never return.”

LGBT civil rights groups have been calling for action. “Haley issued her statement less than a week after GLAAD urged her to do so,” The Washington Blade reports.

“The attacks on LGBTQ men and reports of concentration camps in Chechnya were beyond horrific, and Ambassador Haley is taking the right step in speaking out against these blatant violations of human rights,” Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO, said in a statement. “This is a powerful sign that the U.S. Mission to the United Nations will continue to prioritize LGBTQ acceptance and fight discrimination and human rights abuses around the world.”

To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.