Citizens in cage call on Merkel to protect gay men in Chechnya

* As Merkel prepares for Russia visit, citizens protest in cage for 3 days in front of Chancellery *

Images from the launch of the protest for editorial use

Citizens in Berlin are organizing a 3 day round the clock protest, calling on Merkel to speak out about the torture of gay men in Chechnya in her meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Tuesday, May 2nd. Activists will sit in a 2-meter high cage standing in front of the chancellery, taking shifts from Sunday noon until Tuesday evening.

The action happens as 1.5 million people have signed a petition calling on Russia to close the torture centres and new media reports are being published that suggest the wave of persecution that has seen hundreds of men arrested and abused is still ongoing.  

Florian Filtzinger, organiser of the protest, says: “When the world pays attention to the persecution in Chechnya, it is throwing a lifeline to gay men under threat. Standing in a cage in Berlin is our action of solidarity with the gay men who are literally locked up and tortured in Chechnya. Russia needs to stop their abuse now!”

Tatiana Vinnichenko, chairperson of the Russian LGBT Network, said: “We’ve seen first hand how devastating this brutal anti-gay crackdown in Chechnya has been. We urge Chancellor Angela Merkel to address this issue with Putin when she meets him. It would mean so much to gay Chechens to know the world is standing with them against discrimination and persecution, and that their plight is being taken seriously at the very highest levels.”

Christoph Schott, Avaaz Senior Campaigner says: “Chancellor Merkel has faced down Putin in crises like Ukraine, she is the best messenger to bring a clear message to him: Russia needs to stop the torture of gay men in Chechnya.”

Angela Merkel will fly to Russian resort town Sochi on Tuesday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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For interviews, contact Daniel Boese daniel.boese@avaaz.org +491778405700