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Increase in Assaults on Gay Men in Belarus
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■ Belarusian activist Edward Tarletski badly beaten in a homophobic attack last month: third assault on him in four years.
There is widespread concern among the gay community in Belarus following an increased number of homophobic attacks over the past four weeks.
Among the victims was Edward Tarletski, a well-known Belarusian gay and member of the Board of Lambda Belarus.
He was badly beaten on May 21 at around 11pm when he was on his way back to his Minsk home.
According to Mr. Tarletski, he was attacked by three young persons between 20 and 25 years as he arrived at his apartment building.
“I was approaching the entrance, when I saw young people smoking nearby,” he said.
“One of them called me by my surname – to make it clear that it was me, I think. Another one unexpectedly hit me in face, and I fell down.
“They kicked me many times, mostly in the head. Then they escaped. I lost consciousness. A neighbour then helped me to reach my apartment.
“The villains took nothing: in my bag I had money and camera,” he said.
Mr. Tarletski explained that he had no intention to report the incident to police. “This would be a waste of time,” he said – adding that this was the third assault on him in the last five years.
Edward Tarletski is a founder of Lambda Belarus, the first gay-organization in Belarus. In 1998, 2002 he edited and published LGBT magazine Forum Lambda. He was the organiser of Belarum Gay Pride festivals between 1999 and 2002. Today, he is on the editorial team of Taboo magazine – and is also known as a ‘drag queen’ performer.
A few days earlier, 25-year-old Vitaly was enjoying a beer with his friends in the Minsk city park.
“A guy walked by and decided that I was gay,” he said. “He came up and punched me so hard that he knocked out a tooth.
“Others were shocked, but they didn’t react, because they just thought that the attacker had drunk too much.
“I did not report the incident to the police, because it is my experience that the police in particular have a nasty and humiliating attitude towards gays”, he said.
Las week, two young gay guys were beaten by four skinheads after a party in Minsk. The skinheads made many homophobic remarks during the unprovoked attack which left on of the young men needing medical help..
“I didn’t call to police because I’m not sure that they would take my side when found that I’m gay,” one of the victims said.
Last Sunday, Slava – a 24-year-old gay man – was out with his friend in Gomel. The pair were the last customers in a bar.
“The owner of the bar together with his son decided to beat us up,” Dlave said. “They locked the door and we couldn’t escape.
“They badly beat my friend … and I kicked the door in.
“The police showed up, but they behaved as though we were the guilty ones.
“We were taken to the police station together with our attackers,” he explained. “The police let the attackers go, without even finding out who they were.
“The attitude toward us was very humiliating. It was as if we were the criminals, not the victims.”
Then yesterday, two older gay guys, both in their forties, were attacked and beaten by Ten men on the ‘gay beach’ in Gomel. One of the victims has a smashed lip.
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