Association raises concerns over LGBTI+s' life safety in Ukraine: 'No to war'

* Photo: Pixabay

The Kaos GL LGBTI+ association has released a statement raising concerns over the life safety of LGBTI+ rights defenders in Ukraine following the invasion of the country by Russia yesterday (February 24).

Titled "No to war", the association has called on everyone to protect peace against war and war policies and said: "War policies, militarism and nationalism provoked by the states, return to LGBTI+s as violence everywhere, more particularly in the regions crushed by war."

The full statement of Kaos GL reads as follows:

'War has no winner'

"We have learned that following an ongoing 'crisis', Russia had started a military action in order to invade Ukraine, in the early morning.

"War has no winner. Humanity and human rights are the losers of all the wars in world history. We are worried that the invasion action and the war started by Russia would return to the people in the region as oppression and systematic violation of rights, particularly the right to live.

"We are worried about the security of life of our comrades and LGBTI+ rights defenders in Ukraine. We witnessed the oppression against LGBTI+s closely at the regions in the grip of Russia, who is the builder and the operator of the hostility policies towards LGBTI+s.

"While the torture against LGBTI+s is going on in the detention centers in Chechnya, the invasion started by Russia towards Ukraine, would lead LGBTI+ hostility to become widespread also in our region.

'Wars mostly affect vulnerable groups'

"We know that wars mostly affect vulnerable groups who already have difficulties in accessing rights, from the history of humanity. War policies, militarism and nationalism provoked by the states, return to LGBTI+s as violence everywhere, more particularly in the regions crushed by war.

"The oppression against LGBTI+s and LGBTI+ organizations would swell not only in Ukraine, but also in Russia where LGBTI+s try to survive under anti-LGBTI+ policies for a long time, together with this war.

"We call on all the right organizations in our country and across the world for fight against war. We are with LGBTI+s and LGBTI+ organizations who struggle for peace in Ukraine and Russia. No to war!" (SD)