Defence of gay Maxim Lapunov complains about court bias in a torture case in Chechnya

The refusal of the Russian authorities to investigate the detention and torture of Maxim Lapunov in Chechnya will be challenged at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the defence has reported. Members of the "Russian LGBT-Network" stated that Maxim Lapunov had to leave the country because of threats.

Earlier, the Stavropol Territorial Court has refused to grant Maxim Lapunov's complaint about the refusal to institute a case about his detention and beating at the criminal investigation building in Chechnya.

After the refusal of the Stavropol Territorial Court to grant the complaint about the decision pronounced by the first instance court, all methods to protect Maxim Lapunov in Russia have been "practically exhausted," reported Vladimir Smirnov, a lawyer of the "Committee Against Torture". He has clarified that the Maxim Lapunov's case is "very resonant and complicated."

On November 26, Maxim Lapunov, who stayed abroad, recorded a video message for the "Caucasian Knot". "I am indignant about the fact that being a victim of the law enforcement bodies, I have to defend myself ... The facts submitted by me to the court are rejected," he said.

According to the information of November 26, 135 members of the LGBT community, including 104 and 31 women, left Chechnya, the "Russian LGBT-Network" reported.

Activists begin to more often receive appeals from women whose relatives try to force them to marry when they find out that the women are lesbian or bisexual.

Maxim Lapunov had to leave the country, since even after he had left for his relatives' place in another region of Russia, he continued to receive threats, a member of the "Russian LGBT-Network" reported.