Statement by Foreign Affairs Minister on the ongoing Human rights violations in Chechnya 

December 18, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on continued human rights violations and abuses in Chechnya, particularly against LGBTQ2 individuals:

“Two years ago, Canada, alongside 15 other members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism to initiate a fact-finding mission to address serious human rights violations and abuses in Chechnya.

“Despite clear evidence substantiating allegations of harassment and persecution, arbitrary or unlawful arrests or detentions, torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions of LGBTQ2 people in Chechnya, Russia has taken no meaningful action towards implementing the recommendations in the mission’s report. Meanwhile, new credible information has come to light from human rights organizations about further grave human rights violations and abuses in Chechnya, including an alarming increase in the number of abductions and enforced disappearances.

“In the two years since the report was released, the inaction by Russia has further contributed to a climate of impunity for human rights abusers. Canada again urges Russia to conduct an impartial and credible investigation so that those responsible for torture and other abuses are held to account. Canada continues to call on Russia to take heed of the report’s recommendations and to respect the dignity and human rights of all individuals without discrimination. Human rights have no borders. Canada believes human rights are universal and indivisible, and these include the human rights of LGBTQ2 people.”

“As a strong, vocal and forceful advocate for universal human rights for all, the Government of Canada is committed to combatting discrimination, violence, and unjust laws targeting the LGBTQ2 community around the world.”

Associated links

• Human rights violations in Chechnya to be investigated
• Expert report confirms human rights abuses in Chechnya
• Joint statement delivered by Permanent Representative of France to the OSCE Véronique Roger-Lacan on the Moscow Mechanism invoked by 16 participating states