This spring had a lot of news about the persecution and even murder of gays in Russia, especially in Chechnya.
And although most of the Newspapers talked about Chechnya, according to human rights organization Amnesty International, during the third presidential term of Vladimir Putin, which began in 2012, the freedom of all citizens of Russia were severely restricted.
“Unfortunately, these restrictions has affected the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons”, — sadly says Pia Puu Oksanen (Pia Puu Oksanen), specialist of Amnesty International on issues of harassment based on gender or sexual grounds.
“Right now, sexual minorities, regularly become targets of harassment and violence in Russia.”
In times like these 21-year-old David (name changed) living in the border of Kitee with a population of 11 thousand inhabitants, is planning the wedding with my civil husband.
“My husband does not want to openly declare our relationship. We don’t hold hands when walking around the city, because he is afraid that we will see some Russian and tell about our relationship to his parents and relatives in Russia.”
On the lives of sexual minorities in Kitee influenced by Africans who have moved to live in this municipality. They don’t accept homosexuality for religious reasons.
“My husband is afraid that they will be able to do something if they see us together. Sometimes it’s hard for me to hide our relationship, but I thought that in a few years we’ll move to another municipality, larger. Then everything will work out.”
The requirement to provide asylum to fleeing from Chechnya
The theme of the rights and security of the Russian representatives of sexual and gender minorities living in Russia and abroad, was raised during a series of events Pohjois-Karjala Pride in may. Pohjois-Karjala Pride is held in the Finnish North Karelia already for the 13th time.
At the event dedicated to the situation in Chechnya, was a document addressed to Prime Minister Sipila Juha (Juha Sipilä), the Minister of internal Affairs, Risikko Paula (Paula Risikko) and Minister for foreign Affairs Timo Soini (Timo Soini) to help homosexuals and bisexuals in the Republic.
In the appeal and request that the Minister of internal Affairs announced whether Finland to guarantee the permission to stay and refuge to people fleeing from Chechnya. The appeal was signed by a total of 30 people. It was sent to the Ministers of the 5th of June.
Amnesty International also spoke out against persecution of gays in Chechnya.
The human rights organization held a rally in Helsinki, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in early June.
During the campaign organization gave the Embassy a petition to stop persecution of gays in Chechnya. The appeal was signed in Finland 15 thousand people. The international demand was signed by more than 600 thousand people.
Engagement rings and costumes are selected
Pia Puu, which deals with the oppression of gender and sexual minorities, says that the attitude of the representatives of nontraditional sexual orientation in Russia has changed several times.
Homosexuality was decriminalized during the Revolution of 1917, but was re-criminalized in 1933.
The last time homosexuality was decriminalized in 1993, but laws in recent years have complicated the situation of sexual and gender minorities.
“Respect and protection of human rights is not President Putin in the first place”.
“For example, the law on equal marriages in Russia it seems something unattainable. Relationship of same-sex couples also could not register because of such a law in the Family code does not exist,” says Pia Puu Oksanen.
In Finland the law on same-sex marriages entered into force in March 2017. However, Dennis decided about the wedding with her civil husband before the reform.
“When we started Dating, we decided to get married in two years. I’ve already picked us a ring and suits,” says Denis with a gleam in his eyes.
