In Chechnya gay activists complain of crackdown and mass arrests and torture. Speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity, one man who recently left Chechnya after the arrest, said that hundreds of homosexual men, like him, have been arrested by the authorities and kept in appalling conditions in detention.

"My car was stopped at a checkpoint in the Chechen police, and they asked me for documents," said the man, who asked to call him "Ahmed". "They looked at the documents and said," We're taking you in ".

In recent weeks the problem became much worse, hundreds of gay men arrested and subjected to terrible violence. "They started beating me with fists and feet, they wanted to get from me the names of my friends-gay," said another Chechen in CNN in a safe house where we agreed to meet.

The main Muslim Republic headed by Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman of the Kremlin, whose security forces are accused by human rights groups in kidnappings, killings and other abuses. The press Secretary of the Chechen government called the allegations about the gay outbreak in Chechnya, "an absolute lie" and denied the existence of gays in the country. There is a video of Chechen clerics, who say angry sermon in Grozny, the main city of Chechnya condemn these accusations and promised "retribution".

One of the largest Russian Newspapers, Novaya Gazeta, which first reported this story, says that "all employees" is now at risk of reprisals. Russia has a shaky report on gay rights, the crackdown on gay parades, and even laws against gays. But the charges Chechnya, unprecedented and provoked an international reaction.

"We remain concerned about reports of abductions, torture and killings in Chechnya, based on their sexual orientation," the statement reads Nikki Haley, U.S. envoy to the UN. "If this is true, it is a violation of human rights cannot be ignored - Chechen authorities should immediately investigate these allegations, to bring to justice all those responsible and take steps to prevent future abuse," the statement reads.

Many believe that homosexuality is shameful, and in Chechnya, widespread practice of so-called honour killings - the murder of family members to resolve shame. "If my family finds out I'm gay, then no power, no troops, they will kill me," says Ahmed. "Even if my parents will forgive me, someone like my uncle, will you forgive me," he said. It is the fear of family retribution against the background of official repression of gays makes many Chechens to flee their homes.
sections: Politics, Region News, Accidents