Update – 20 September 2024: We have learned that one of the victims of the anti-LGBT+ crackdown in Dagestan was given a chilling ultimatum: either face prison, be sent to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine, or “disappear” — a threat that likely meant being killed. This is part of a wider campaign of terror against LGBT+ people in the region. Now, more than ever, we must speak out. Sign the petition now to demand action and protect those at risk.

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Update – 8 August 2024: We have learned that one of the victims of the anti-LGBT+ crackdown in Dagestan successfully escaped Russia at the end on June. This young man revealed that Dagestani authorities are using tactics reminiscent of the 2017 Chechnya purges. He was detained after his contact details were found in other LGBT+ detainees’ phones. During his detention, he was forced to unlock his phone and coerced into cooperating with authorities through unimaginable psychological torture, leaving him in constant fear for his life and the safety of his friends. His escape from Russia is nothing short of a miracle, but the systemic oppression and violence against LGBT+ people in Dagestan continue while Matvey Volodin’s health is deteriorating and his life remains in grave danger. We urgently need your support to shine a light on these atrocities and protect those who are still at risk.

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Matvey Volodin, a gay blogger, is in urgent need of life-saving HIV therapy. Detained in Dagestan - a republic of the Russian Federation, situated in the North Caucasus - Matvey's access to necessary medication has been cut off, threatening his health and well-being. Matvey's situation is part of a larger crackdown on LGBT+ individuals in Dagestan, where at least three others have been detained and threatened.

Matvey's health is deteriorating without access to HIV medication. Detained under false charges, he is being denied essential healthcare, which is a basic human right.

Matvey's trial is approaching, and every day without medication puts his life at greater risk. Immediate action is needed to ensure he receives the treatment he needs and to protect others from similar fates.

Matvey's story is not isolated. Detentions and threats against LGBT+ people in Dagestan continue. The impact of these detentions is far-reaching, instilling fear within the LGBT+ community and violating basic human rights. Your support can help bring these injustices to light and drive change.

By signing this petition, you will help pressure authorities to provide Matvey with the necessary medical treatment and highlight the broader issue of unjust detentions of LGBT+ people in Dagestan.