NPR

'They Told Me I Wasn't A Human Being': Gay Men Speak Of Brutal Treatment In Chechnya

Two gay men tell NPR they were kidnapped, beaten and interrogated in Chechnya before they were able to find refuge in Moscow. Human Rights Watch warns that Chechnya is conducting an "anti-gay purge."
Two gay men, who do not want to be identified for safety reasons, left Chechnya after being kidnapped and beaten there. Gregory (left) says he was held for 12 days in a basement. Arnie (right) says he was disowned by his relatives after he was delivered back to his family unconscious, in a burlap bag. They spoke with NPR at a safe house in Moscow.

At an unmarked apartment building in Moscow, there's a notice taped to a large metal door with a list of tenants who haven't paid their rent. Up five flights of stairs, on the top floor, two young men sit side by side on an old couch in a one-bedroom apartment.

They're calling themselves Gregory and Arnie. They don't want to use their real names because they fear for their lives. Both men recently left

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR6 min readInternational Relations
What To Know About A Possible Israeli Military Offensive In Rafah
In Gaza's southernmost city, where more than a million Palestinians have sought shelter and where aid groups have centralized operations, worries have grown over a possible Israeli military operation.
NPR10 min read
Happy Arbor Day! These 20 Books Will Change The Way You Think About Trees
Trees communicate. They migrate. They protect. They heal. We climbed into the NPR archives to find some of our favorite arboreal fiction, nonfiction, and kids' lit — get ready to branch out.
NPR2 min readAmerican Government
Amazon Warehouse Workers In Alabama Might Get A Third Try At Unionizing
Federal officials threw out the first vote, ruling that Amazon improperly interfered. The results of the second vote remain inconclusive. The federal government now determines what happens next.

Related Books & Audiobooks