Nash Mir (Our World) Logo


Info kaleidoscope: UKRAINE, RUSSIA


Winter 99 | Autumn 98 | Summer 98 | Spring 98 | Winter 98 | Autumn 97 | Summer 97 | Spring 97

Winter 1999

GAYS ARE NOT RECOGNIZED TO BE A PART OF THE SOCIAL LIFE IN DONETSK REGION
This spring saw the opening of the exhibition "Political Map Of Modern Donetsk Region" in the regional museum of local lore. It represents political and social organizations of the region - both officially registered ones and those acting on a non-formal basis.
Unfortunately, the offer of the "Our World" Regional informational and human rights Center for gays and lesbians to provide the materials on this organization to enlarge the exposition was turned down by the museum's management in the person of the director E. Dorisenko, who referred to the possibility of "incorrect interpretation" of its intentions. And an employee of the propaganda department expressed her doubt as to the necessity of advocating the rights of this population group.
Thus the numerous visitors of the exhibition will get a non-complete impression concerning the social and political picture of the region's life and will remain in the dark as to the problems of the Ukrainian gay men and women.
THE ANTI-AIDS PROGRAM
Later this year the UNO's program of population and the non-governmental organization The International Federation of Family Planning will start funding the activity in the sphere of the propaganda of safe sexual behavior among sexual workers (prostitutes) and homosexuals, as well as the project of maintaining the reproductive health of youth. This is the first-ever special program that will be fulfilled in Ukraine.
The activity will be put into effect in Kyiv, Kherson, Lvov, Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov. The total budget will reach 260 thousand pounds. In collaboration with the Ukrainian partners the IPPF is planning to distribute 2.5 million condoms among the risk groups in Ukraine over the period of 1999-2000.
One of the partners from the Ukrainian side is the Ukrainian Association of Family Planning, which has already started developing two programs titled "Be careful, safe and happy" and "Prevention of HIV among men who practice sex with other men".
MISTER GAY UKRAINE - 98 Mister Gay Ukraine-98
On the 14th of February the new Kyiv night gay-club "Heaven" hosted the contest "Mister Gay Ukraine-98" announced by the magazine "Odyn Z Nas" (One Of Us). According to the publication, over one hundred people from all across the country applied in response to the offer. The four winners of the preliminary elimination trials took part in the competition vying for the title.
The jury, consisting of the magazine's representatives, a cinema and TV director, a designer and a representative of gay-biz, took the creative approach to the evaluation of the contenders. The competition was won by the young man from Poltava named Vlad, "who demonstrated the highest level of preparedness to the event and, probably, the greatest responsibility".
"As to spectators, their opinions at times were different from that of the jury. Some expected an overtly erotic show and thought that the contest turned out to be too artsy and somewhat refined chaste. Others were shocked by the very fact of the festival's holding, as they got used to restraining their own emotions and conceal their preferences from the people around", the magazine tells.
The mass media paid certain attention to the first-ever contest of this kind in Ukraine.
KYIV GAY TELEGRAPH K.G.T.
The first issue of the newsletter Kyiv Gay Telegraph was published. Twelve pages contain the latest news, the Ukrainian gay-guide based on the information of the "Nash Mir" (OUR WORLD) magazine, personal and commercial ads.
Address: K.G.T., P.O.Box 260, Kyiv, 252150
Telephone for ads placement: (044) 491-27-43 (from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
ACCORDING TO THE K.G.T. INFORMATION
Leading tourist agencies of Kyiv started providing services in reserving rooms in Europe's hotels that attend to gays, as well as offer tours that include visits of "thematic" places. In 1998 the similar practice was noticed a number of times.
THE "BLUE WAGON"
The "Blue Wagon" club started to hold sessions in Kiev on a half-closed basis. Events are organized in gay-bars and gather audience for discussing diverse topics and socializing. To get an invitation, apply to the address: G.W., P.O.Box 250, Kiev, 252150, Ukraine. Tel. (044) 491-27-43 (from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
THE "BOULEVARD" WEEKLY LOST TRIAL TO THE LEADER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF UKRAINE
Earlier last November the "Boulevard" weekly ran the refutation of its own article "Is the leader of Ukrainian communist a homosexual?" (¹ 14 dated March 20, 1998) - in accord with the ruling of the Radiansky regional court of Kiev. Besides, the paper is to pay 75 thousand grivnas to P. Simonenko as a
1/10 PUBLICATIONS
The latest issue of the major Russian journal for gays has been published. Its editor and publisher, Dima Lychev, writes in the editor's column that the economic crisis in Russia does not allow to make the full-scale issues of the magazine. Hence, to carry on the work, the staff will publish the renovated "1/10 Vestnik" review, which will run various materials, including a big amount of advertisements, news, information on the goods sold by the editorial staff. The review requires payment and will be issued bimonthly. 1/10 Vestnik
The spring saw the publication of the first issue of the advertising and informational catalogue of the representative branch of the "1/10" paper in Ukraine. This publication, as its editor Vladimir Somov writes, will contain exclusively the information on the goods in offer. The catalogue's price is 8 grivnas. Address of the representative branch of the "1/10" paper in Ukraine is P.O.Box 2140, Mariupol, Donetsk region, 341039,UKRAINE.

Autumn 1998

A NEW DISCO IN KHARKOV
The end of the last summer saw the starting of the new gay discotheque in Kharkov housed at the night club "Contra" in Sumskaya street. It is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. At the entrance the face control is effected.
Like another gay disco in the second capital at the Officers' House, this one boasts a lot of regular barflies, though guys from other regions located not far from Kharkov, also visit this hang-out. The number of visitors totals 40 to 120, but the opening party was honored by as much as 300 persons.
On Fridays a show program is held which - according to one of the regulars - lacks a high artistic and esthetic level so far. The show features a trevesti named Alisa who plays zany a-la Madonna and Laima Vaikule, as well as a striptease: 50-kg 2 meter tall young man enters the stage in the clown's outfit and strips off to the undies. Still the audience go back to their places way before the spectacle is over. Traditionally the role of ringleader is taken on by restless King Kong aka Alsibah aka Baba Olya.
"THE NIGHT OF VAMPIRES" IN KIEV
A regular gay party entitled "The Night of Vampires" was held on September 27 in Kiev club "Nika". Each one could side with the "dark forces" and submit oneself to the power of make-up artists. The chief of all these evil spirits was Kostya Gnatenko, a self-proclaimed "granny of vampires". Apart from him the "sabbath" involved some other young singers and dancers. Along with the ticket of admittance the guests were presented with a garlic clove - a surefire means of protection in a similar company.
Founders of the function are planning to introduce a system of membership cards and to start the first closed gay club in the capital.
Any info is available by the phone (044) 44 - 143 - 99
"ALTER EGO" IN DNEPROPETROVSK
A Dnepropetrovsk-based initiative group of 10-15 gays is planning to set up a club "Alter Ego" (another self). The basic aim of the club will be the organization of communion among the club's members, of their leisure activities. The club is meant to be registered as a social organization in the future. According to Igor, who inspired the club's creation, the major obstacle is in gays' passivity, their fear of exposure.
Address: P.O.Box 4, Dnepropetrovsk, 320044, UKRAINE
E-mail: club_int@hotmail.com
Internet: http://alter_ego.webjump.com

Summer 1998

COMPILATION OF GAY POETRY

Ukraine has seen the publishing of the first compilation of gay poetry titled "You are my bouquet of roses". Addressing the readers Andrei Ametist, the chief editor, writes: "Let us experience blissful moments of love, pain of separation and unfaithfulness, hopes of beautiful and unique feelings together with our still unknown young Ukrainian poets".
The biggest part of the presented poems are in Russian. Number of published copies is 2 thousand.
The address of the editorial board: P.B.49, Storozhinets, Chernovitskaya obl., 275400, UKRAINE
PERSECUTION OF THE "SIMONA" WEEKLY

Kharkov is undergoing the surge of persecutions against the publications containing erotic materials. Recently the local department of work with juvenile delinquents of the town of Chuguevo ( a regional center) demanded that the post office should ban the selling of the weekly journal "Simona" through news-stands. The letter ¹ 4 dated May 28, 1998 signed by the head of the above-mentioned organization runs: "The "Simona" journal is the publication of lesbians and homosexuals. Owing to this journal which your
service diligently distributes, some "activists"-homos that have appeared in the town lately, are making attempts to organize their club aiming at sexual depraving of our (and your) children and grandchildren".
The reply article in the "Simona" weekly says: "It is regretable to hear such statements, that crudely suppress human rights, in the late 90s". Red-tape functionaries completely disregard the fact that the paper has published important information concerning prevention of AIDS and drug-abuse as well as other medical materials. In such a way the right to information gets violated, specialized publications are banned.
Editorial board of the "Simona" is determined to submit the incident to the human rights organizations to put an end to arbitrary actions of mossback officials and demand that they should observe human rights in Kharkov region.
"BEAUMONDE" IN KIEV

On the eve of the Independence Day the gay club "Beaumonde" was opened in Kiev. The festive party was held at the bar of the restaurant "Kievskaya Rus" and was attended by about one hundred guests.
Kostia Gnatenko, a celebrity of Ukrainian show-biz, highly acclaimed the club's opening. He said that hopefully the first gay club on Ukraine's territory will be gathering smart and interesting folks. He also spoke of the national big day and successes in democratic transformations in the country over the years of independence, and to top it off Kostia performed a few of his songs. The "cultural program" included some more performances.
Alexander Fesenko, director of the "Velich" company which was the organizer of the event, said in the interview: "Starting of this club was the logical continuation of the work conducted by the "Velich" company in the sphere of creation of an infrastructure of gay entertainment biz in Kiev".
At first the club had been intended to be open each Saturday, but later we got the information that the disco did not pay off due to the high cost of rented space. So at the moment its organizers are seeking another premises for the "Beaumonde".
PROBLEMS OF THE "ONE OF US" MAGAZINE

The Kiev-based magazine of male aesthetics "One Of Us" has been confronted with fresh problems lately. Alexander Fesenko, founder of this publication, says in the statement made public on the Internet: "Publishing of the magazine has entailed great difficulties from the very start". These problems were caused by shortage of stable long-term investments in the mag. Concerning the current situation Mr. Fesenko says: "Sadly, new investors lack an adequate experience in publishing business and have their own (quite strange) view of the magazine publishing and editorial office management. So they decided to discontinue (as they are stating - to suspend for a while) the making of the magazine. The editorial board, headed by Mr. Fesenko, is apprehensive that investors will decide on closing the publication".
Besides, the letter touches upon the common problems that our young gay press faces: fear of potential advertisers to place their ads, general economic difficulties.
The "One Of Us" is appealing to everyone for material and financial help.
THE FIRST GAY-PRIDE IN MOSCOW

At noon of the 22 of August the corner of the Novy Arbat street and Sadovoye Koltso was crowded. People were gathering to take part in the festive procession to honor the Day of Russia's State Flag. But everyone's attention was mostly attracted by the platform painted in all possible colors and boasting two flags - the three-color Russian one and the seven-color, rainbow one - as well a huge placard running "Free love to free Russia". The space around was covered with about two hundred picturesque characters in feathers, leather, carnival costumes, chains, scarves, hats, holding balloons and little flags. Young, attractive and sexy. This column remained to be the largest, the most informal and the only one whose appearance reminded of the festivities in the streets. "Here, gays and lesbians came", was an excited remark of a member of the organizing committee in gray suit of an official. "Let them participate, why not? I just wish they didn't make a mess. It's a state high day after all..."
A group of grave foreigners standing by the "Metropol" hotel was ogling the gay platform with bewilderment. Still not believing their own eyes the businessmen addressed the participants with the words, "Do you know what this flag means?" In the West Russia is still viewed as a big village. Laughing, dancing and singing, the gay column entered the Vasilievsky slope and to the watchers' delight conducted an improvised concert. The public debut of the gay community in Moscow was not accompanied by the dramatism of the first open demonstration of their brothers and sisters held in Greenwich Village 30 years earlier. But it seemed to have no lesser importance for their struggle for gay rights and freedoms.
REDUCTION OF THE "CONCENT AGE" IN RUSSIA

Boris Eltsin, Russia's President, signed a decree on introduction of amendments into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In particular, the words "sixteen years" in the name and text of the article 134 ("Sexual intercourse and other actions of sexual nature with a person younger than sixteen years") were replaced with the words "fourteen years" (The "Rossiyskay Gazeta" of June 27, 1998)
This makes Russian legislation one of the most liberal and democratic in Europe in providing freedom of sexual contacts for its sexually mature citizens. Now our closest neighbor ranks with such countries as France and Spain where the "consent age" for homo- heterosexual relations is 14 years.
We asked the most prominent Russian sexologist, professor Igor Kon, whether these amendments were submitted to experts' approval. He replied: "I know nothing about the experts, I personally was not asked any questions. Our authorities have their own knowledge of everything".
Despite the fact that the decree has come into effect the Parliament is still to adopt the corresponding law confirming the changes in criminal legislation.


Spring 1998

UKRAINIAN WOMAN KILLS THREE AFTER TAUNTS ABOUT HER SEXUAL ORIENTATION
A 26-year-old Ukrainian woman was sentenced to death after killing a man who flirted with her and two other people who allegedly teased her for being a lesbian, a newspaper reported Thursday.
Angela Shevchenko, from the village of Lazurny in southern Ukraine, long suffered ridicule from fellow villagers over her sexual orientation, Kievskiye Vedomosti said.
When a local police lieutenant flirted with her, Shevchenko took his advances for mockery, seized his pistol and shot him to death, the paper said. She then shot two others, the paper reported. Kherson district court sentenced her to death; the paper did not say when.
Ukraine has imposed a de facto moratorium on capital punishment, and the sentence is unlikely to be carried out.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION: LOCAL AUTHORITIES PROPOSE POLICE SURVEILLANCE OF HOMOSEXUALS
The Health Care Department in the Russian region of Astrakhan has submitted to the regional Parliament a proposal for monitoring so-called "risk groups," as part of an AIDS-HIV prevention project. The proposal would give local authorities expanded powers to invade the privacy and restrict the freedoms of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.
"Immediate Precautions Against HIV Infection," submitted to the local parliament by Health Care Department Director V. Yushkov, includes numerous recommendations for action. Recommendation 6.2. calls on the regional Department of the Interior--responsible for the police and militia--to "commence cooperation with medical institutions for investigation and mutual information, as well as keeping records on persons from high risk groups (i.e., drug addicts, homosexuals, prostitutes, and others)." In addition, recommendation 6.4 calls on the Department of the Interior to "oblige directions in penal colonies, prisons, and pre-trial detention units to undertake prophylaxis and strict control ... over homosexual relations in penal institutions."
The first proposal not only identifies homosexuality with criminal behavior (despite the decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations throughout Russia in 1993) but mandates medical institutions to violate the confidentiality of sensitive medical information. Moreover, it would give the police--an institution which throughout the Russian Federation remains largely unreformed from its totalitarian past--unlimited power to practice surveillance and impose restrictions and harassment on vulnerable groups. It invites discrimination based on sexual orientation, which the United Nations Human Rights Committee has found to violate Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It also contravenes the right to privacy, which is protected by Article 17 of that Covenant, as well as by Article 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Under the guise of protecting public health, the law proposal would actually constitute a serious threat to it; targeting segments of the population which are already legally vulnerable and socially stigmatized, the regulations would render those groups still more rationally reluctant to seek treatment or even HIV testing.
The regulation affecting prisoners would have a similar effect within the confines of already-restrictive institutions. Vaguely and generally worded, it would give prison authorities new scope to punish and crack down on prisoners or groups of prisoners whom they dislike.


Winter 1998

K. Gnatenko "I AM NOT A MONSTER"
Under such name on February 15 in night Kiev club "Hollywood" after Valentine's Day there was held the show-program of Konstantin Gnatenko, a journalist, poet and host of TV talk- show "Black Cat". By announcing himself "gayest birdy of Ukraine", Kostya began to sing.
Many spectators have noted the large similarity of the songs' texts, rhythms and scenic performance with the works of Boris Moiseev (a popular Russian gay showman). Nevertheless spectators liked the sincerity of the home "light-blue" (gay) performer. As Gnatenko himself says he only decided to sing because nobody will perform better his own songs, can really live through them on a stage. You see, to sing it is necessary to have not only the voice - it should be sung with soul.
The program was sponsored by American condoms LifeStyles.
NEWS FROM KHARKOV
WE ARE WITH YOU
January 7-10 in Kiev there was held first in Ukraine an International Seminar dedicated to the problem of HIV/AIDS. The seminar was prepared by Kiev Center of Mutual Aid of the HIV-positive citizens of Ukraine "My S Vami" ("We Are With You").
The organization "We Are With You" was founded in March, 1996. The help in formation of the Center was provided by UN Program of Development and Social Service for Youth of Kiev State Administration. Amongst tasks of the Center are to render the psychosocial help to the people with HIV/AIDS, their relatives and friends; to give the medical consultation and help; to initiate consolidation and self-organizing of Ukrainian HIV+ citizens etc.
"We Are With You" is a voluntary organization, where act volunteers both HIV+ and HIV-.
At the Center there acts the hot-line of "confidence telephone" (as it was noted at the seminar by one of the Center's cofounders Dr. Elena Purik, the calls are, unfortunately, not numerous; call mainly gays, women and parents of drug- addicts).
The Center is going to expand its activity on the whole territory of the country: there will be carred out monthly educational and practical seminars on preventive maintenance of HIV/AIDS (sexually transmitted diseases, STD), pre-test both post-test consultation and psychosocial support of HIV-positive for the workers in the spheres of public health service, education, social services.
The constant attention of the Center is concentrated on training of teenagers and youth in a healthy way of life and safe forms of behavior.
The Center cooperates with mass media, issues the booklets and leaflets of a preventive orientation.
Nowadays the Center plans publishing the first in the country magazine for HIV-positive, widening of the "confidence telephone" and creation of the first in Ukraine an information center on problems HIV/STD.
Prepared by Valery Yudin.
THE SOCIOLOGICAL DATA OF "SOCIO-GALLUP"
1200 persons, representing the basic social and demographic categories of the adult population of Ukraine, were polled.
Are you agree that the existence of clubs and associations of sexual minorities should be forbidden? Newspaper "Den" ("Day"), November 14, 1997

Autumn 1997

THE NEXT "ODYN Z NAS" (ONE OF US) GAY MAGAZINE.
"The fifth number of "Odyn z nas" (One of Us) gay magazine was published. The issuing was renewed after a problems connected with the change of the publisher. Some readers who have subscribed "Odyn z nas" before didn't receive magazine because of money were left on the bank account of previous publisher.
APOSTOLIC MISSION "THE RISING SUN"
Apostolic mission "The Rising Sun" has a motto "The Unity is in Christ". It is a Christian society for gay-believers. The Mission have began it's activities in April, 1997. Nowadays it includes 30 members.
The appeal of "The Rising Sun" says, 'It's an unique Christian mission in Ukraine which supports those who were rejected by all religion communities. Our aim is spiritual and moral support to everyone. We strive for kindness, participation and understanding. We can help you to realize that you have the right to believe, to love, and to have hope. As well as Christians all over the world, in spite of your sexual distinction."
"The Rising Sun" exists for voluntary donations of Brotherhood members. Mission needs your financial support and any help!
Address:
Brothers Leonid Shvedov and Vyacheslav Karpukhin,
13 Suvorova str., v. Zlatoustovka, Volnovakhskiy district,
Donetsk region, 342351, Ukraine
ADONIS IN ZAPOROZHIE
In October 1997 the Adonis Charitable Fund was established in Zaporozhie (one of Ukrainian cities). The main goals of the fund are social and psychological support of gays and lesbians, improvement of public opinion concerning homosexuals.
IN BRIEF

Summer 1997

MILITIA (POLICE) RAID ON GAY CLUB
On July 25 armed members of ONON (the Department on illegal drug possession and sale) rushed in the Moscow gay club "Chance" and brutally beat the patrons. Approximately 40 persons were arrested. Eyewitnesses state that the majority of the patrons' faces were bloodied. Attempts to clean off the blood with a handkerchief were punished by kicking or beating.
The militia has declared that it was searching for drugs and that these people were under the influence of narcotic substances. In the station the militia tried to compel those arrested to sign pre- written papers with false drug test results, and then the club patrons were detained from six to eight hours without charges being placed. During detention they were constantly exposed to insults on the part of militia, such as "Let's crush drug addict fags! ("Komsomolskaya Pravda" newspaper, August 22, 1997).
No drugs were found, and some of the patrons the next day hired an independent expert appraisal, which did not reveal the presence of narcotics in their blood. "The irony of this situation is that this night in Chance... completely officially passed... the anti- drug action, to which almost all Moscow beau-mond was invited", notices "Komsomolskaya Pravda".
The management of ONON has declared that the raid on club had positive moments, for example "some information was assembled which can be used for operative work in the future."
On behalf of the Russian gay community, Pavel Chaplin, the directors of club "Chance", and Evgenia Debryanskaya, the leader of the Moscow lesbian organization appealed to the world for support, with direction regarding lodging a protest to the Moscow Procurator, chief of Moscow militia, and Ministry of internal affairs. Their letter states that this action was the part of "cleaning measures" that are carried out before celebrating Moscow's 850th anniversary, "when everyone who is different from what is considered normal is included in a category of people subject to removal from the city. Homosexuals, certainly, get in this group."
Other media has commented about the conflicts between the factory "Sickle and Hammer" - formerly owned by the Palace of Culture, and in which "Chance" is situated, and the present management of the Palace of Culture, which has shared the enterprise and receives income from its activity.
"ONE OF US" "FROM HANDS TO HANDS"
At the end of spring - beginning of summer the editorial staff of "One of Us" magazine and the Civil Human Rights Protection Committee (address: PO Box 73, 252006, Kiev) carried out the joint project "From hands in hands". It consisted of free-of-charge distribution of copies of "One of Us" magazine in gay groups around Ukraine, where it could not be obtained through news stands, and also to groups in Byelorussia and Moldova.
In the accompanying letter, in particular, was written: "This free issue of the magazine is aimed at informing a wider circle of homosexuals in regional areas. We address gay activists throughout the Ukraine. We ask you to share these two copies among your circle of friends so that more gays could find contacts among themselves."
According to one of the chiefs of the project, 500 packages with 2 copies of the magazine in each were dispatched. Based on thier results it was possible to determine more than 43 informal actively existing groups all over Ukraine and about 8 - 12 possible gay centers to open in the future. "This project, together with "One of Us" magazine and its regular issues, promotes a more active formation of an active gay environment, which in the near future can be perceived as a unified organization. Though begun as an acquaintances service, as a result of it there are new contacts between the closed groups of our gay community." To date, the fourth issue of "One of Us" magazine is currently available.
"HE" AND "ONE OF US" DISPERSED
At the end of summer the Demetrios agency, which issued "One of Us" magazine, and the founder of "One of Us" magazine, Alexander Fesenko and chief editor Leonid Nefedovich, had broken off relations. As we were informed, Demetrios agency plans to issue its own magazine "of man's aesthetics" - "He". "It will be a copy of the former edition", the former address also will be kept.
The chief editor of "One of Us" magazine has stated that his edition will continue to be published, but by another publisher. Its upcoming fifth issue will be delayed, since according to Nefedovich "all materials are blocked in the agency". "The concept of the magazine remains unchanged, however probably its design will be changed a little".
GAY-ALMANAC IS ISSUED IN UKRAINE
In the Chernovtsy area the gay literature-art almanac "He" was distributed. The isue consists of readers' letters, with a subtitle "Shout of soul", verses, and stories. It is illustrated by black-and- white figures by a staff artist. The almanac is issued in Russian with a circulation of 50 copies. The imprint states that it "is dispatched to agencies, service organizations of social and psychological assistance, libraries free-of-charge". Private persons are offered to buy it at the price of about five dollars (US). As the editor of the edition has stated, "if it works, I plan to issue the almanac quarterly. Volume depends on materials, circulation on the readers". The almanac is produced by a publishing house whose policies state "each manuscript has the right on the publication".
"GAY ROSE" HAS SUFFERED
The free acquaintances service for gays "Gay Rose", working as the private initiative since this past spring, temporarily has stopped the service. On August 26, 1997 the regional court of Lugansk sentenced Roman Z. to two years of corrective work. It was the punishment for use of xerographed postage stamps in correspondence. He and one other person were brought to charges of criminal liability on item 153 (forgery of postal stamps) and item 87 (drawing material prejudiced to the state).
In conversation with the editor of "Our World" magazine, Roman has noted "bright homophobia" among militiamen of the Lugansk municipal department of internal affairs, who made the inquiry on this occasion. During interrogations he was asked questions about addresses of gays and lesbians known to him. Therefore he believes the militia collects files on homosexuals and continues to rank them as a "risk group". He also has stated that privacy of correspondence has suffered, since after the institution of the criminal case many letters, in his opinion, began to be delivered with obvious traces of opening, and some did not reach their destinations at all. At the end of the conversation Roman declared "it was as if we were under a cap, and are".
TEENAGER WHO RAPED BOYS IS CONDEMNED
In July 1997 the regional court of Kiev put a fourteen-year-old teenager on probation for 18 months. The criminal proceedings began October 2, 1996 by the Procurator of the Minsk region of capital under the article about malicious hooliganism, accomplished by sodomy under the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The condemned schoolboy of the 214th school sometimes raped brothers of the first and fifth classes on the garret, in a toilet and at other school premises. The "Kievskie Vedomosti" newspaper states the "father of the violator... a former municipal deputy, now chief of a private company - did everything possible to pull out his son".
International right-protectors feel that the criminal case was conducted with legal infringements - because of the age qualification the minor cannot be condemned under article 122 of the Criminal Code for violate sodomy. Just it, in their opinion, has helped actually to justify the teenage violator. The vice-minister of justice Nikolai Handurin in confirming this, also has noted, that "today's verdict has made probation punishment, further changing sodomy with regard to small hooliganism - often tried in Ukrainian legal proceedings." In the court the young child victims' mother have not confirmed intent to appeal against the verdict. In the Kiev area over the last 6 months, nine cases under the 122th article were tried, however only in two cases violators were condemned.

Spring 1997

THE "SOYUZPECHAT" PRESS AGENCY SELLS A GAY MAGAZINE
Early in 1997 the "Odyn Z Nas" (ONE OF US) magazine appeared on newsstands in a few areas of Ukraine. According to its editor-in-chief, Leonid Nefedovich, the Kharkov branch of the Agency was the only the only one that has turned down the offer to distribute the journal.
This can surely viewed as a big and important breakthrough in the sphere of accessibility of the information about gays for the wide public and as a token of the going-on democratization of the society.


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