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US Senators Draw Attention to LGBT Problems in Azerbaijan
Baku / 09.11.17 / Turan: A group of US senators appealed to the US Secretary of State in connection with reports of detentions of LGBT community representatives in Azerbaijan. They urged the US administration to investigate these reports and condemn the pressure on LGBT people in the event of confirmation of the information from reliable sources. This was reported by Human Rights First.
The initiators of the appeal are Republican Senators Pat Toomey and Ron Wyden. They point to an increase in pressure on LGBT representatives in the region.
The letter was also signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin, Susan Collins, Jeffrey Merkley, Marco Rubio, Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis. The letter expresses the hope that Secretary of State Tillerson will hear the call of the senators and will deal with this issue.
In mid-September, about 100 LGBT representatives were detained in Azerbaijan and subjected to administrative fines and arrests. The police motivated this by considerations of protection of public order and the fact that the detainees offered tourists 'paid intimate services.' These actions sparked an international response, and many of the arrested were released ahead of schedule.
According to official data, 56 people were sentenced to administrative arrests. Thirty-two of them had infectious diseases, and they were sent for treatment. The remaining 24, who did not have any diseases, were released. As of October 2, according to the Prosecutor General's Office, none of them remained in custody. -06D--
Politics
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