A Russian man arrested for running a travel agency for gay customers died in custody, sparking concerns about the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia amidst a crackdown on their rights.
A Russia n man arrested for allegedly running a travel agency for gay customers was found dead in custody in Moscow, rights group OVD-Info reported Sunday, amid a crackdown on LGBTQ2S+ rights in Russia . According to OVD-Info, which tracks political arrests, Andrei Kotov — director of the “Men Travel” agency — faced charges of “organizing extremist activity and participating in it.
” OVD-Info said an investigator told Kotov’s lawyer that her client had died by suicide early Sunday while in pretrial detention and was found dead in his cell. Prior to Kotov’s death, independent media outlet Mediazona reported earlier this month that Kotov had rejected the charges and said in court that law enforcement officers beat him and administered electric shocks during the arrest, even though he didn’t resist. Just over a year ago, Russia’s Supreme Court effectively outlawed any LGBTQ2S+ activism in a ruling that designated “the international LGBT movement” as extremist. The move exposed anyone in the community or connected to it to criminal prosecution and prison, ushering in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. The LGBTQ2S+ community in Russia has been under legal and public pressure for over a decade but especially since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in 2022. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has argued that the war is a proxy battle with the West, which he says aims to destroy Russia and its “traditional family values” by pushing for LGBTQ2S+ rights
LGBTQ2S+ Russia Arrest Death Rights Crackdown
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
N.L. man found not guilty of sex charges, judge cites inadequate police investigationSupreme Court Justice Glen Noel says he was concerned about a lack of corroborating evidence to support the charges against Yosief Tesfamicael
Read more »
Man with dementia, 64, found dead a week after walking away from care homeChristian Dube’s body was found Saturday, his family said on a Facebook page called Help Chris Come Home.
Read more »
Missing Man with Dementia Found Dead After Week-long SearchChristian Dube, a 64-year-old man with dementia who went missing from his care home in Saanich, was found dead after an extensive search. Dube had escaped from the Veterans Memorial Lodge and was last seen in the PKOLS/Mount Douglas Park area.
Read more »
Suspect in Shooting of Chicago Jewish Man Found Dead in Jail CellThe staff found Abdallahi in his cell at 3:30 PM on Saturday 'after an apparent suicide by hanging.'
Read more »
Man with dementia, 64, found dead a week after walking away from care homeChristian Dube’s body was found Saturday, his family said on a Facebook page called Help Chris Come Home.
Read more »
Man Found Dead in Calgary Home Due to Carbon Monoxide PoisoningA man was found dead in the furnace room of a northeast Calgary home, and three others were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. The incident is under investigation by Calgary Police, who believe it is related to a previous welfare check call.
Read more »