Written answers

Thursday, 19 November 2020

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights

Photo of John BradyJohn Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions that he has taken and plans to take in the future in response to the ongoing persecution of gay persons in Russia and Chechnya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37448/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government closely follows developments in relation to the treatment of members of the LGBTI+ community in Russia and, in particular, is well aware of the widespread reports of the persecution of gay men in Chechnya.

When the reports first emerged in 2017, senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs met with the Russian Ambassador to convey the grave concerns of the Government, and of the Irish public, at these reports. During the meeting, officials urged the Russian authorities to fully investigate the allegations, to ensure that any such persecution be ended immediately, to provide all affected persons with the assistance they require, and to ensure the safety of activists and journalists investigating the reports of abuse in Chechnya.

In November 2018, Ireland, along with 15 other participating States of the OSCE, invoked the Moscow Mechanism to establish a mission of experts to investigate the reports. The report, published in December 2018, concluded that the evidence confirms the allegations of very serious human rights violations and abuses in the Chechen Republic. The invoking participating States, including Ireland, welcomed the report and its comprehensive list of specific recommendations that could be used by both Russia, including the Chechen Republic, and other participating States moving forward. We further urged Russia to heed the recommendations and work with relevant international institutions – including with the OSCE - to constructively address the issues raised.

During my visit to Moscow in July 2019, where I met with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, I conveyed Ireland’s deep concern at the targeting of LGBTI+ individuals in Chechnya, urging that Russia engage constructively with the Moscow Mechanism report and recommendations. In addition to diplomatic and political dialogue with the Russian Government, Ireland continues to prioritise direct engagement with Russian Civil Society through our Embassy in Moscow, and all official and political travel to Russia includes meetings with local organisations and human rights defenders.

Ireland regularly makes recommendations on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council. In May 2018, as part of the UPR of the Russian Federation, Ireland recommended that Russia adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of sexual orientation, including measures to allow LGBTI+ persons to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, without fear of harassment.

Ireland continues to raise its concerns over the treatment of the LGBTI+ community in Russia, and especially in Chechnya, through international fora such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE. On the occasion of the 2020 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia, along with our EU partners at the OSCE, we criticised the ongoing persecution of the LGBTI+ community, and called on Russia to uphold its international commitments to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

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