Italian LGBT rights activist Yuri
Guaiana on Friday told a press conference in Milan that Russian
authorities have seized boxes with a reported two million
signatures calling on Russian authorities to investigate the
alleged detention and torture of gay people in Chechnya.
"We were told that the procedure will not go forward", said
the activist, who was released on Thursday after being detained
while on his way to deliver the petition to the prosecutor
general's office in Moscow.
He announced that the signatures "will be sent anyway in
digital format".
Guaiana was among five activists detained as they prepared to
submit the signatures against arbitrary detentions and torture
of gay people in the Muslim-majority region.
The activist also said the trial against the other LGBT
activists arrested Thursday is scheduled to start on May 29.
"The trial against the Russian activists has been scheduled
on May 29".
"I will be able to stand trial in absentia but they won't",
said Guaiana.
He added that activists were hoping to submit the petition
before the start of the trial.
Independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta first reported the
anti-gay abuse last month, saying that some 100 suspected gay
men were detained and tortured, and at least three were killed.
Guaiana told the press conference that human rights
organizations have found evidence that "at least 100
homosexuals" are currently jailed in six prisons.
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