Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14313 | 02 May 2017

Alleged extreme discrimination and crimes against homosexuals in the Chechen Republic (Russian Federation)

Signatories: Mr Johan NISSINEN, Sweden, NR ; Ms Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Tobias BILLSTRÖM, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Ms Sílvia Eloïsa BONET, Andorra, SOC ; Mr Nigel EVANS, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Ingebjørg GODSKESEN, Norway, EC ; Mr Giorgi KANDELAKI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Mr Niklas KARLSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Sofio KATSARAVA, Georgia, SOC ; Ms Alev KORUN, Austria, SOC ; Mr Florian KRONBICHLER, Italy, SOC ; Ms Carina OHLSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Judith PALLARÉS, Andorra, ALDE ; Ms Azadeh ROJHAN GUSTAFSSON, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Damien THIÉRY, Belgium, ALDE ; Ms Anne-Mari VIROLAINEN, Finland, EPP/CD ; Mr Christoph WENAWESER, Liechtenstein, NR ; Mr Markus WIECHEL, Sweden, NR ; Mr Morten WOLD, Norway, EC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The Parliamentary Assembly is deeply preoccupied by numerous recent reports of extreme, state-initiated discrimination and crimes against homosexuals, especially males, in the Chechen Republic (Russian Federation) – resulting in alleged detentions in camps, beatings and torture by uniformed State personnel, and disappearances – in certain cases said to be followed by executions.

The Assembly is aware of the considerable autonomy enjoyed by Chechnya within the Russian Federation, and the possible resulting difficulties for federal instances to readily investigate the allegations in question.

The Assembly nevertheless affirms the unquestionable duty of the federal Russian authorities to intervene immediately in order to examine these alleged violations and bring possible perpetrators to justice – bearing in mind that such violations, if found to be true, would constitute shocking breaches against the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and several subsequent Council of Europe texts, as well as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Assembly therefore resolves to look into this matter and make any appropriate recommendations.