Gay man ‘captured’ in Chechnya claims he was tortured and beaten with metal rods alongside hundreds of others in ‘Nazi-style’ Russian prisons
Authorities have been accused of setting up several 'secret' camps to carry out abuse
A GAY man who claims he was held in a concentration camp-style Russian prison after being KIDNAPPED has told of his terrifying ordeal.
Several hundred gay men are feared to have been been tortured or killed because of their sexuality in the southern republic of Chechnya.
Authorities have been accused of setting up several "secret" camps to carry out the abuse.
One of the men allegedly help against his will, known as Adam, told the he was set up by a gay friend who lured him to a meeting place where he was thrown into the back of a van.
He tried to deny he was gay, but his alleged captors had read messages on his mobile which forced him to "confess".
They called us animals, non-humans, said we were going to die there.
Adam
He said: “They called us animals, non-humans, said we were going to die there.
“They woke us up at 5am and let us sleep at 1am. Different people would come in and take turns to beat us.
"Sometimes they brought in other prisoners, who were told we were gay and were also ordered to beat us.”
Adam miraculously escaped with his life 10 days later.
Russian newspaper reported on interviews with eyewitnesses and survivors who claim they were arrested and detained at one of the secret prison at a former military headquarters in the town of Argun.
Former detainees told how they endured "electric shock torture and violent interrogation", while others say they were held to ransom and used to extort their families.
MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS
Today international organisations urged the Russian government to investigate the reported abuse and killings of gay men in Russia's southern republic of Chechnya.
Earlier this month it was reported that police in the predominantly Muslim republic of Chechnya have rounded up more than 100 men suspected of homosexuality and that at least three of them have been killed.
Chechen authorities have denied the reports, while the spokesman for leader Ramzan Kadyrov insisted there were no gay people in Chechnya.
The United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights called upon the Russian government in a statement "to put an end to the persecution of people perceived to be gay or bisexual ... who are living in a climate of fear fueled by homophobic speeches by local authorities."
Separately, the director of the human rights office at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Michael Georg Link, said Thursday that Moscow must "urgently investigate the alleged disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment" of gay men in Chechnya.
It comes after Novoya Gazeta reported Chechen police had rounded up more than 100 men suspected of being gay - killing three of them, last week.
Chechen's President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is a key ally of , accused of ordering the clampdown, denied the allegations claiming "it's impossible to persecute those who are not in the republic".
The Chechen government suggested there are no gay people in their country.
The Kremlin-backed Kadyrov is widely accused of extensive human rights violations.
He has brought Islam to the fore of Chechnya's daily life, including opening what is called Europe's biggest mosque.
Human rights groups have accused security forces controlled by Kadyrov of resorting to disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial executions, and the collective punishment of suspects’ extended families in their fight with Islamist insurgents.
Tanya Lokshina of said: “For several weeks now, a brutal campaign against LGBT people has been sweeping through Chechnya.
“Law enforcement and security agency officials under control of the ruthless head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, have rounded up dozens of men on suspicion of being gay, torturing and humiliating the victims.
“Some of the men have forcibly disappeared. Others were returned to their families barely alive from beatings. At least three men apparently have died since this brutal campaign began.”
In a statement, the Russian LGBT community said: "No national and/or religious traditions and norms can justify kidnapping or killing of a human being.
"Any references to 'traditions' to justify kidnappings and killings are amoral and criminal.
It added: "We believe that the only thing that can work out is the evacuation. We co-operate closely we the human rights defenders both in Russia and abroad, and ready to evacuate."
Novaya Gazeta also reported this month that Chechen authorities are running a secret prison in the town of Argun where men suspected of being gay are kept and tortured.
Several hundred people rallied on Wednesday evening outside the Russian embassy in London, waving rainbow flags.
One placard read "Love is love" in Russian.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368