HRC Requests Tillerson Address Chechnya Abuse of Gay Men with Russian Counterpart

As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visits Moscow amid tensions stemming from the U.S. bombing of a Syrian airfield last week, Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is asking the nation's top diplomat to address the matter of gay concentration camps that allegedly exist in the Russian Federation's republic of Chechnya.

In a letter to Tillerson dated April 4, Griffin raised the issue of recent discoveries of human rights abuses facing gay men in Chechnya that include torture, humiliation and the deaths of at least three.

"I therefore write to urge you to make clear to your Russian counterparts that such lawless detentions, arrests, torture and murders are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Griffin wrote to Tillerson. "As you said during your Senate confirmation process, you believe in 'a shared commitment to protect the human rights of all people, no matter who they are or whom they love' and that 'means standing for universal human rights and fighting for the dignity of every person.'"

Griffin continued:

"This is a crucial moment to make it clear that the U.S. will indeed "work aggressively to advance human rights for everyone," as you have said. The Chechen and Russian governments must transparently account for those who have been detained, condemn and investigate the attacks, and ensure that those targeted can flee to safety. I urge you to press them on these concerns and to put into practice the human rights goals you set for yourself and your Department in your confirmation process."