Vladimir Putin government defends Chechnya leader’s comments that country should be ‘purified of gays’

Andy Wells
·Freelance Writer

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has stoked the flames of controversy after appearing to support comments made by the leader of Chechnya about gay people.

Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, was “taken out of context” when he said the country should be purified of gays.

Speaking to HBO over the weekend, the 40-year-old insisted homosexuals were “not people” and insisted there were none in the country.

He said: “Why did he come here? What’s the point of these questions? This is nonsense. We don’t have those kinds of people here.

Vladimir Putin's spokesman insists the Chechnyan leader's comments were taken out of context (Rex)
Vladimir Putin’s spokesman insists the Chechnyan leader’s comments were taken out of context (Rex)

“We don’t have any gays. If there are any, take them to Canada.

“Praise be to God. Take them far from us so we don’t have them at home. To purify our blood, if there are any here, take them.

“They are devils. They are for sale. They are not people… they will have to answer to the Almighty for this.”

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When asked about the comments, Putin spokesman Peskov said: “As for Kadyrov’s interview, frankly speaking, very often, his words are taken out of context.”

Human rights groups claimed this year that Chechen authorities had allegedly set up concentration camps where gay men are interrogated and subjected to physical violence.

The country has a poor record in gay rights – sexual activity between men has been illegal since 1996 while there is no official recognition of same-sex relationships.

Top pic: Rex