IGTA Worldwide Reports
RUSSIA
31.07.98
GAY RIGHTS
ARBITARY BEHAVIOUR BY INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIALS.
ASSISTANCE OF SUPPORTERS OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND THE IGTA REQUESTED
Several months ago roumers circualted Nizhny Tgil, a large metal industry town (Pop. 500,000), about a paedophile maniac who had caused the death of a 12 year old youth. His body had been taken to Golyano-Gorbunov hill. He calimed to have gone for help, but the boy was dead, the effects of violence and being restrained and raped and left in freezing temperatures.
Alex Narishyn, reporter for "4 Canal" came from Yekaterinburg to interview Val Klimov of the Ural Movement for Gay rights and editor of Russia's first Transgender Newsletter. Val expressed concerns that this crime had caused homophobic feelings to emerge but wanted to stress that such an awful crime gave no grounds for suspecting gays of the crime.
The MVD found the man responsible, who as expected turned out to be mentally disturbed. However, despite no evidence at all to implicate gays, the MVD hauled in over 100 gays. Under blackmail and threats there fingerprints were taken, and a video was made. Some were forced to become informers.
At a recent Press Conference the Nizhny Tagil MVD chief Nikelburg, stated that in the imediate future 400 gays would be taken in connection with there operation. This forced Val Klimov to issue a statement that the actions of the MVD openly violated gay rights. He would therefore in the name of the Ural movement and the GD Editorship appeal to Amnesty International in London in London to defend gay rights.
Help has also been requested through the IGLA and the IGTA.
If you concerned about these developments please write a letter in protest to
Either the Oblast Procurator or to E.E. Rossel, Govenor of Sverdlovsk oblast
both at : Russia 622000, Sverdlovsk oblast, Yekaterinburg
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