I have something quite disturbing to talk about today. I just learned about this today, and I feel that it's something that I need to write about. It appears that this has not actually hit the media very hard, but we are lucky to live in a world where regardless of how little something is reported, someone will pick up on occurrences like this and the word will spread across social networking sites.
There is a man in Russia called Maxim Martsinkevich, who is a former leader of the far-right extremist group Format18, the armed wing of the Russian Nazi organisation NSO. You have probably heard recently about President Putin's attacks on the LGBT community in Russia - I believe it's getting to a stage where even saying the word 'gay' in public is illegal there. At the moment, Martsinkevich is involved in this onslaught. Spectrum Human Rights reports the following:
'Infamous Russian ultra-nationalist and former skin head, Maxim Martsinkevich, known under the nickname “Cleaver” (or “Tesak” in Russian) spearheaded a country wide campaign against LGBT teens using a popular social network VK.com to lure unsuspected victims through personal ads. Mr. Martsinkevich’s numerous and enthusiastic followers started two projects: “Occupy Pedophilyaj” and “Occupy Gerontilyaj”. Allegedly they are trying to identify and report pedophiles using these “movements”. In reality, over 500 online groups have been created inside VK.com social network in order to organize illegal militant groups in every Russian city. Oddly enough their idea of fighting pedophiles targets exclusively male teenagers who respond to the same-sex personal ads and show up for a date. Captured victims are bullied and often tortured while being recorded on video.
'These self-proclaimed “crime fighters” perform their actions under the broad day light, often outside and clearly visible to general public that indifferently passes by or even commend them. Video recordings of bullying and tortures are freely distributed on the Internet in order to out LGBT teens to their respective schools, parents and friends. Many victims were driven to suicides, the rest are deeply traumatized. So far Russian police took no action against these “movements” even though Russian criminal code was clearly violated and despite numerous complaints from parents, victims and LGBT activists. Social network VK.com intermittently shuts down selected groups and profiles only to allow them to be re-open on the next day. Currently, the founder of VK.com, Pavel Durov, resides in the US and so far has not released any comments.
This graphic and violent video shows an underage victim in Moscow, Russia. He was bullied, tortured and sprayed with urine in the broad day light …'
There follows a video which I am proud to say I have not seen, and which I have no intention of seeing. For those who are more emotionally prepared to view disturbing content than I am, I will leave a link below:
http://www.thegailygrind.com/2013/07/25/russian-neo-nazi-groups-tricking-and-torturing-gay-male-teenagers-the-blood-is-on-putin-hands/
I think that it is very important to share this information. I think the thing that shocks me the most about it is not so much the fact that it is happening (although that is shocking in itself), but the fact that it doesn't appear to be being reported a huge amount. When I was trying to research this issue in preparation for this blog, the majority of the links that I found were from independent websites and obscure blogs. There do not seem to be many notable sources reporting this, which means that were it not for the power of the Internet in 2013, this would largely go unnoticed by the world. This is not right. I think that the major news sources of the world need to pick up on this so that the world knows about it, and there is pressure on the authorities in Russia to prevent this from happening again. No one should feel harassed for being who they are, and especially no one should be tortured or tormented the way that the person in this video is obviously being, for any reason. I suppose that that is the reason why I run this blog; to make people aware of issues that are not being reported in the press, and to encourage people to do something about them.
So what can I do about it, I hear you ask? Well to start with, share this information. Put it on your Facebook Timeline, tweet it, tell people about it. Share my blog, and other blogs with this information. I will look for any petitions to sign, and possibly start one myself if I cannot find one. If and when that occurs, I will share the link here. However, I feel that knowledge is the greatest tool against this form of attack. When people know that it happens, and are prepared to stand up and stop it from happening again, that creates an amazing form of defence.
There is something else that I want to say before I sign off. This evening, I have been watching the famous 1995 Panorama interview by Martin Bashir with the late Diana, Princess of Wales. I remember when she died; I was only three years old at the time, but I remember watching her funeral on television with her parents. As I have grown older and become more aware of certain things, I have found Diana a fascinating individual, and definitely a person to be admired. However, until this evening (or yesterday, technically; I'm writing this at three in the morning) I had never actually heard Diana speak. I was not prepared for the calm, articulate and intelligent demeanour of the lady I was watching. She truly is something special; that is clear straight away. Obviously the Royal Family have received quite a bit of media attention recently because of the birth of the new Prince George. People who read my blog regularly will probably know that I am not a great fan of the Royal Family, and I can't help feeling concerned about the sort of life young George is destined to have. Although I doubt it will actually happen, I hope that he takes after his grandmother; realises that he can use his privileges for the good of the people, and revolutionise the monarchy into representing the modern world.
I was talking to a friend of mine about the Diana interview, and he said that she is one of his biggest inspirations and role models. I also think that she is a role model. Personally I think the role model thing can carry on through the generations. Although Diana is sadly long gone, her legacy lives on in the people whom she has inspired. Hopefully, this inspiration can manifest itself within those people to create something special themselves, and in turn go on to be role models for future generations within their own right. That is something special to leave behind when you die, I think.
So, I hope you learned something from this blog, and I really request that people spread the word about the terrible things that have been going on in Russia. I'd also like to apologise for the variation in sizes of the text in this blog. I have copied and pasted a few things, and it messed things up, and I was too focussed on getting this finished to work out how to sort it (yes, I know. Writing these in the early hours of the morning really isn't the best idea.) The Diana interview is on YouTube as well, and I seriously suggest people go and watch it. She's so inspiring.
Peace out, guys!
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