Ukraine: Violent Police Raid on Kiev Gay Club
In the morning on October 22, 1999 a group 22 policemen from the Kiev Department For Organized Crime broke into Kiev night club Kletka (Kutuzov Avenue). A personal search was performed on club visitors with application of force and without a warrant. The camera shots were done without consent of the interviewees. Club visitors were subjected to verbal abuses and threatened with forced psychiatric treatment. The power representatives alleged that the club was actually illegal since the majority of the visitors were gays. Approximately forty persons were detained during 4 hours. The visitors were denied the right to contact their relatives and lawyers. Mr. Fedotov, a co-owner of the club, was beaten. Other visitors were humiliated and smashed with condom boxes and stacks of gay magazines sold in the club. Mr. Fedotov's personal money was confiscated, while he was forced to sign a document stating that he voluntarily contributed his money to the Socialist Party of Ukraine for Mr. Moroz presidential campaign. During the raid the policemen consumed drinks and food from the club bar. There is no follow-up or any official excuses to club visitors.
