A St. Petersburg-based lgbt rights group has filed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights over Russia’s failure to prosecute the perpetrators of homophobic hate crimes. Coming Out has made a particular complaint about an attack on an activist during an International Day against Homophobia “Rainbow Flashmob” rally in May 2012. It says Christian orthodox activist Gleb Likhotkin shot Boris Romanov with a gas gun, as Romanov held a balloon saying "Jesus loves men and women equally”. He received chemical injuries to his face and eyes. Likhotkin was ultimately found guilty of hooliganism with the use of a weapon, however the motive of homophobic hatred was not taken into account. Coming Out claims the Russian government violated three articles of the European Convention: the homophobic motive was not seriously considered, the right to freedom of assembly was violated and there was discrimination based on sexual orientation. The group says Russian police regularly refuse to investigate crimes against LGBT people which occur during peaceful meetings. It says there were several similar attacks in 2013, including the beating of four participants of the St. Petersburg pride event on June 29th; the attack on the office of “LaSky” organisation in November, resulting in one activist losing sight in one eye, and another hit being on the back. It says none of these crimes was qualified as a hate crime, which normally implies a more serious punishment. “The European Court of Human Rights has never passed a judgment on complaints from victims of homophobic or transphobic hate crimes, and this precedent would protect LGBT communities in the future in many countries, not the least in Russia, where a positive decision would help to ensure proper investigations and stop impunity for homophobic perpetrators,” Coming Out says.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 13th August 2014 - 1:13pm