In 2013, we massively sent out a clear and colorful signal to President Putin in Amsterdam that we disagree with a country with homophobic laws. But despite the agreements made, the IND sends Russian LGBT asylum seekers back very hard and without respect. That is unacceptable.

Sign the petition here!

The signing of the petition One-way Russia? no way! is a public campaign that supports the motions submitted by the SP, D66, ChristenUnie and GroenLinks, which will be voted on on 2 July, and with which State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Justice and Security is asked to introduce a more flexible asylum policy for Russian LGBT asylum seekers in the Netherlands.

In July, the Ministry of the Interior will publish a new country report. In addition to parliamentary questions and motions, COC Netherlands has also asked the State Secretary for Security & Justice and the House of Representatives not only to institute a simpler asylum policy, but also to consider this group as a vulnerable minority group. The COC notes that the situation for LGBT people in Russia has seriously deteriorated since an anti-gay law came into effect there in 2013. The COC refers, among other things, to the report License to Harm by Human Rights Watch (HWR). It concludes that there is an increase in anti-LGBT violence throughout the Russian Federation and that the anti-gay law in fact legalizes discrimination against this group. At the time of signing the petition, one of the three currently exhausted Russian LGBT asylum seekers will be present. Evgenii (26) was mistreated and threatened with death in Russia by uniformed police officers in training and is perhaps exemplary of how this vulnerable group in an intolerant and homophobic country does not receive protection from Russian authorities, including the police.

But despite agreements made with the IND to treat this vulnerable group of asylum seekers with respect, this LGBT asylum seeker is also in danger of being deported. The IND gives a settlement alternative as a reason for deportation by moving to a 'safe' city elsewhere, 2500 km away from his original place of residence. It is currently not clear to both politicians and various civil society organizations how many granted and rejected requests from Russian LGBT asylum seekers have been processed by the IND.

More info:

NRC article 01-07-2015
 
COC Netherlands / link petition
 
One World
posterrussia

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