Dear friends,
Zelim Bakaev is a young pop singer from Chechnya, Russia. Last August, he traveled home for his sister's wedding. He was reportedly dragged into a car by security officials – and hasn't been seen since.
There are indications that Zelim is one of the victims of the atrocious anti-gay purge in Chechnya, where local authorities have been kidnapping, torturing, and murdering gay and bisexual men.
Russian authorities promised to investigate, but have taken no concrete action.
Today marks five months since Zelim's disappearance, so the Russian LGBT Network and All Out are launching #JusticeForZelim, a global campaign demanding a thorough investigation into this case.
There is little doubt Zelim was arrested because of his sexual orientation. Some survivors of the anti-gay attacks in Chechnya told me they had been questioned about his sexuality.
At only 26, Zelim was building a musical career in Moscow. He had been banned from performing in Chechnya because, according to his friends, his music was considered too "different".
Zelim has become the face of Chechnya's anti-gay crackdown here in Russia. If we get his story out to the rest of the world, we can put the atrocities happening to gay and bisexual men in Chechnya back in the spotlight – and demand an end to it.
Thanks for going All Out,
Igor Kochetkov
Russian LGBT Network
