Artem Kalinin, one of the leaders of the public organization "Another Look" (Komi) has been attacked for the second time since the beginning of the year. As previously reported, on the evening of January 29, Kalinin was beaten by a group of unknowns, shouting homophobic insults.
After exactly two months the gay activist was attacked again. On March 29 Kalinin got hit on the head by a stick with a metal attachment on his doorstep and was sent to the department of neurology at the hospital in Evzhin. Yesterday Kalinin had the opportunity to describe in his blog what happened on that Tuesday night (translation >>).
"... Perhaps this attack is somehow connected with the beginning in Syktyvkar of the "Week Against Homophobia 2011" and the provocative content on the website of "The Edge of the North "...", - previously passed out of the hospital by Kalinin. He was quoted by the Project "7x7" (translation >>).
Artem Kalinin was formally a member of some right-wing organizations but later radically changed his views. He leads active debates with local nationalists. He has been repeatedly threatened by leaders of regional right-wing organizations.
In particular, a day before, the nationalist organization "The Edge of the North", famous for its calls to "kill faggots!", posted a new proclamation on its website - "Crush faggots like shit". Nationalists have promised to disrupt the "Week Against Homophobia" in Komi. "Propaganda of pederasty is unacceptable in all its manifestations. Comrades, let us stand up behind the wall encroached by the enemies of our traditions and culture "- said the homophobes.
It has been become clear over the last two years, during which time regional gay activists have attempted to hold a series of educational and human rights activities, that the Komi Republic (Syktyvkar) is a territory with low tolerance for LGBT citizens. Representatives of the RPC have made a stand against LGBT citizens with particularly sharp statements. In addition in the spring of 2010 during a press debate the Dean of the local diocese, Father Alexander, reminded his audience that gays "... were killed with stones according to the law of Moses...". And earlier this year, Syktyvkar prosecutor’s office declared the national movement’s slogan ‘kill faggots’ was not against the law.
"Another Point of View" is Syktyvkar’s public organization concerned with the human rights and social adaptation of sexual and gender minorities. It forms part of the Russian LGBT Network.