Russian law enforcement drops hate crime investigation on anti-LGBT attack

[William769]

ST, PETERSBURG, Russia — The investigation into a November 2013 attack at a meeting of LGBT rights activists that left a man with the loss of vision in one eye, has been suspended, and will not be investigated as a hate crime.

A police official assigned to the case acknowledged to LGBTQ Nation on Tuesday that despite the collected evidence, including bullets and fingerprints, investigators were not any closer to arresting the assailants than they were last November.

On Nov. 3, 2013, a group of masked thugs using baseball bats and air-pellet guns forced their way into a meeting of LGBT rights activists yelling anti-gay epithets and firing rounds at the people gathered. One of those activists, Dmitry Chyzhevsky, was struck in the eye and, despite enduring three surgical procedures since the attack, he has lost all vision in that eye.

Last week, Chizhevsky and the others learned that investigation into the attack was officially suspended and that the court dismissed their petition to have the incident classified as a hate crime.

Chizhevsky’s attorney, Maria Kozlovskaya, criticized police handling of the investigation, noting that video from a local surveillance system, which might have tracked the attackers, was not collected by police investigators.

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/03/russian-law-enforcement-drops-hate-crime-investigation-on-anti-lgbt-attack/

[NuclearDem]

1. Just....ugh.

[geek tragedy]

2. Russia is a gay-bashing thug state. nt

[William769]

4. Well to be honest, they are not just bashing gays.

[geek tragedy]

5. Well no, but they do seem to save their worst

for the GLBT community.

[William769]

6. No argument there!

[EmilyAnne]

7. Sadly, they don't.

In equal measures I saw brutal beatings and even murders of minorities and immigrants when I lived in Russia.
And sadly I saw the exact same thing happen in terms of law enforcement.
Cases dropped time after time, if they were even investigated at all.


These acts were excused in the mainstream Russian media and by many Russian politicians for all sorts of reasons that would probably scramble your brain to hear.
One that stands out was the time that the front page of the weekly paper Novy Petersburg called the Saint Petersburg African Union's anti-racism campaign a "promotion of Africa's culture of cannibalism, drugs and the dissemination of infectious diseases among the children."
Sound familiar?
Its the same sort of hate speech being used against homosexuals, even down to "protecting" the children.


As an aside, my friend was the head of the SP African Union at the time and his stories were just heartbreaking.
He was a frequent interviewee, writer and speaker on the topic of violence against minorities and immigrants.
He has since been silenced.
Nothing published since 2008, I believe.


Just want to add that I am in no way diminishing the harrowing treatment of GLBTs in Russia. And in their case, there is the Russian Orthodox church and legislation taking a role in their abuse. Just horrible all around.

[irisblue]

12. concern troll is awake....

On Thu Mar 13, 2014, 04:24 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Russia is a gay-bashing thug state. nt
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4654374

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

As a person who has many friends from Russia, I find such broad-brush statements to be bigoted. Russia is many things. It is not only Putin, but also Pussy Riot and many other things. Russia has a rich history and culture. This post reads as an insult to all Russians. - I should add that, considering the history of the author of this post, I find his concern for gay-rights to be sanctimonious. It is obvious that he would jump on any chance to bash all things Russian.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Mar 13, 2014, 04:38 AM, and the Jury voted 0-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It's accurate not offensive.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: He refers to Russia the State, not Russia the Nation. Saying "state" implies he was referring more to the government of Russia, not its people or culture.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: "His concern for gay rights is sanctimonious?" His comment is right on.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Alerter has a point, but the poster is referring to the "state" of Russia. I see this opinion as a charge against the "political" Russia, not the Russian people as a whole.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: LGBT people ARE being gay bashed in Russia .alerters comment"As a person who has many friends from Russia, I find such broad-brush statements to be bigoted. Russia is many things. It is not only Putin, but also Pussy Riot and many other things. Russia has a rich history and culture. This post reads as an insult to all Russians. - I should add that, considering the history of the author of this post, I find his concern for gay-rights to be sanctimonious. It is obvious that he would jump on any chance to bash all things Russian." ....concern for gay rights to be sanctimonious" Leave this post alone, and for the alerter...knock off the homophobia.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

Cannot reply to automated messages

Alert abuse Delete this DU Mail


« Newer | Return to My Inbox | Old

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Is it wrong that I laughed when I saw your post?

It really did make me giggle.

I know I shouldn't laugh when someone is so obviously not concerned with gay rights, but this was precious. Bless his/her heart.

[irisblue]

14. timing

geek tragedy posted #2 @ 10:20pm. Concern troll alerted @ 4:24am. Concern troll now knows that DUers will call out BS, even in the middle of a night.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. well, that laughter you heard was from the Central time zone!

Still chuckling. Sometimes, homophobia doesn't get a pass; it gets a good and mighty smack!

[msanthrope]

16. Iris...you can alert on the alert message to note to them such a completely bogus alert. nt

[irisblue]

17. I forgot that! thx

and I did send it on to Admin as an "alert abuse".

[geek tragedy]

18. Funny stuff. Thx. nt

[hrmjustin]

3. Figures! Putin and his cronies are evil bigots.

[William769]

8. In more ways than one.

[Cha]

9. What a vipers' den in Russia. :(

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Are you sure? I haven't seen anything from RT on this!

I can't say I am at all surprised. Anyone else surprised? Anyone else wondering how many other crimes like this are not being reported?

[William769]

20. Oh no you didn't!

[joshcryer]

11. Wait, the LGBT law had hate crime provisions.

I thought they would take care of anyone mistreating LGBT in Russia?

[stevenleser]

19. But it's not an anti-gay law and Russia isn't anti-gay. Russian media folks keep telling me so.

And I keep telling them I won't appear on their shows.

Of course, now I have two reasons why with the invasion of Ukraine.

I will post this to my Facebook page where several Russian media folks will be sure to see it.

[William769]

21. Thanks Steven.

And I might also add that with allies like you makes being LGBT a lot easier.