RFSL urges the Ukrainian authorities to investigate attack on activist

RFSL, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQ Rights, urges the Ukrainian authorities to investigate the attack on a LGBTQI activist and chair of the of Kryvbas Pride Festival organizational committee, Boris Zolotchenko.

RFSL, the Swedish Federation for LGBTQ Rights, urges the Ukrainian authorities to investigate the attack on a LGBTQI activist and chair of the of Kryvbas Pride Festival organizational committee, Boris Zolotchenko.

On the evening of June 30, Zolotchenko was assaulted by 10-12 young men, in front of the main building of Kryvyj Rih Pedagogical University. The eye witnesses immediately notified the police, however, according to the victim, the law enforcers refused to arrive to the crime scene and stated that all the witnesses would be questioned directly at the police station. Despite the fact that the police failed to take his statement immediately after the assault, Zolotchenko filed a complaint at the district police station on July 1st.

Boris Zolotchenko

“We urge the Ukrainian authorities to investigate this and similar cases, bringing perpetrators to justice and countering the sense of impunity that is now spreading through Ukraine, states Marie Månson, Director of international programs at RFSL. ”It is alarming, that this is a second case of assault against Boris Zolotchenko this year. In January, 2018 a similar case was closed by the police due to alleged lack of suspects.”

Activists from RFSL partner organization Gay Alliance Ukraine, whose community center in Kryvyj Rih Boris Zolotchenko also represents, evaluate the attack as an attempt to prevent the activists from holding Pride events in the city. This, unfortunately, is not unlikely as threats of violence against specific activists were frequent also before Kiyv Pride this year. Luckily, no such attacks took place before or immediately after the march, most likely because of active engagement by the police as well as high international attention and presence. It is, however, important to keep in mind, that the activists working outside the capital are exposed to violence and intimidation to a higher degree, as Zolotchenko’s case also shows, given that they receive less attention and have less access to relevant networks and resources.

RFSL urges the international organizations and diplomatic missions, to pay attention to the events unfolding in the regions of Ukraine, condemn any violence and intimidation of LGBTQI activists as well as members of different marginalized communities and show support for the upcoming Kryvyj Rih Pride, that will take place on July 19-22.