How the Persecution of LGBTQ+ People in Chechnya Turned into a Multimillion Business
Persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Chechnya has evolved into a fully fledged system — with organized methods, unofficial “price lists,” and even job roles. According to the human rights initiative SK SOS, what began as a campaign of intimidation has grown into a profitable industry for security forces, supported by a network of informants and yielding multimillion-ruble ransoms from detainees’ families.
Before the mid-2010s, queer people in Chechnya primarily faced everyday homophobia, but not systemic repression. That changed under Ramzan Kadyrov’s rule. SK SOS points to several possible origins of the “hunt,” including alleged retaliation after a compromising video featuring a cleric close to Kadyrov, followed by orders for executions and a wave of detentions. Economic motives soon took over — families were reportedly forced to pay up to 1 million rubles (over €10,000) for the release of their loved ones.
Torture is routine: detainees are beaten, electrocuted, sexually assaulted, and humiliated. Held in basement cells, they are coerced into signing false confessions or providing names of other queer individuals. Entire networks have emerged, with fake dates and informants paid up to 30,000 rubles per “caught” gay person. This shadow economy of blackmail, fear, and abuse has created a grim job market — one where violence is normalized as a means of survival.
One of the most notorious cases was the 2017 disappearance of singer Zelimkhan Bakaev. SK SOS reports that he was killed by Chechen security agents after his sexuality was allegedly reported directly to Kadyrov. Bakaev was tortured and his body handed over to his family with instructions to bury him quietly and without media attention.
The harshest abuse, according to SK SOS, takes place in police departments in the Leninsky, Shatoysky, and Staropromyslovsky districts — ranging from rape with blunt objects to staged “hunts” for Islamist militants. Despite varying techniques, the purpose is the same: to break, silence, and terrorize.
Through these practices, Chechnya has effectively constructed a political-economic apparatus of violence, where human lives are treated as currency and homophobia serves as a smokescreen for profit through torture.
Full report available via SK SOS.
Before the mid-2010s, queer people in Chechnya primarily faced everyday homophobia, but not systemic repression. That changed under Ramzan Kadyrov’s rule. SK SOS points to several possible origins of the “hunt,” including alleged retaliation after a compromising video featuring a cleric close to Kadyrov, followed by orders for executions and a wave of detentions. Economic motives soon took over — families were reportedly forced to pay up to 1 million rubles (over €10,000) for the release of their loved ones.
Torture is routine: detainees are beaten, electrocuted, sexually assaulted, and humiliated. Held in basement cells, they are coerced into signing false confessions or providing names of other queer individuals. Entire networks have emerged, with fake dates and informants paid up to 30,000 rubles per “caught” gay person. This shadow economy of blackmail, fear, and abuse has created a grim job market — one where violence is normalized as a means of survival.
One of the most notorious cases was the 2017 disappearance of singer Zelimkhan Bakaev. SK SOS reports that he was killed by Chechen security agents after his sexuality was allegedly reported directly to Kadyrov. Bakaev was tortured and his body handed over to his family with instructions to bury him quietly and without media attention.
The harshest abuse, according to SK SOS, takes place in police departments in the Leninsky, Shatoysky, and Staropromyslovsky districts — ranging from rape with blunt objects to staged “hunts” for Islamist militants. Despite varying techniques, the purpose is the same: to break, silence, and terrorize.
Through these practices, Chechnya has effectively constructed a political-economic apparatus of violence, where human lives are treated as currency and homophobia serves as a smokescreen for profit through torture.
Full report available via SK SOS.