Igor Kochetkov

#IgorKochetkov (May 13, 1970 – ): He is a Russian gay rights activist, who serves as a board member of the #RussianLGBTNetwork. In #Russia, #LGBTQIA rights have been discussed and criticized by many around the world. Since 2013, it is illegal for information to be given to Russian teenagers who might be LGBTQIA. In 2017 and each year afterward, the area of Russia known as Chechnya engaged in raids in which gay men were rounded up, beaten, tortured, and/or killed by authorities as a way of purging the region of such individuals. For his raising awareness of these purges, Kochetkov has received death threats and the Russian government has refused to pursue these threats or offer him any protection. Vladimir Putin has stated in the past that he would not interfere in such persecution, stating that it’s a local issue that should be taken up by local authorities. Though homosexuality has been decriminalized in Russia, more than three-quarters of the population oppose such protections or marriage rights. Igor Kochetkov continues to bring awareness of these issues to the international community and Amnesty International has worked with him as well. In 2014 he had been nominated with other LGBTQIA rights activists for the #NobelPeacePrize. #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA #LGBTQIAPride #Pride #LegendsOfPride #YouCannotEraseUs