Artem Kalinin, the leader of the social organization "Drugoy vzglyad" ("Another view") has been attacked by homophobes.

Today LGBT-activists of Syktyvkar has made an announcement that in the evening on 29th of November Kalinin has been beaten by a group of unknown people screaming homophobic insults.

"...the one that has been "the boss", - the victim gay-rights activist tells us, - periodically urged on his friends to deal with the victim, that they (gays) should be killed...". "Thanks God, I have been practicing fighting actively for some time earlier as I have been a member of RNE for a continuous period, and this experience, as they say, can not be "drunken away".

After gathering all strength I could knock-out 2 of 3 attackers. I thought that this would be the end, a police patrol has passed us by quickly, but unfortunately our valiant law enforcement powers decided not to interfere.

As time passed by, my jacket had been torn into pieces, my mouth and nose were bleeding, the eye swelled, hands and legs ached in pain. I did the last effort to break away and only one guy continued to chase me, the other two were left with a nose... All the rest I can hardly remember: the guy has hit me with something on the head and I lost my conscious. The thugs have left probably thinking that I must be dead finally".

On 31st of January Kalinin has written an application to the local police station of Syktyvkar. "... I was glad that the police officers have accepted me who I am, though perfectly knowing what were my main activities.

I didn’t notice any jokes or homophobic moods, the officials were behaving more than correct. On the next day I have passed the medical expertise, that has fully documented numerous traces of beatings. There is only a small thing left - to punish the criminals".

Komi replublic (Syktyvkar) stays a territory with low tolerance towards the LGBT-citizens. This has been found out during the last 3 years when the regional gay-rights activists have made an attempt to conduct a series of educational events.

The ROC (Russian Orthodox Church) representatives make harsh statements towards LGBT-movement here. So, in spring 2010 dean of the local diocese Father Alexander during the discussion in the press has reminded, that gays "...must be beaten to death with the stones according to the Moses law". And in the beginning of the same year the Syktyvkar prosecutor’s office found no violations in the slogan of one of the nationalist movements - "... destroy the fags!".

"Drugoy vzglyad" is a social organization in Syktyvkar that is looking after the human rights and social adaptation of sexual and gender minorities. It also is a part of a Russian LGBT-Network.

Translated by Pavel M.