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Pleas for Help From Gay Men in Chechnya on Rise, Russian Group Says

The Russian LGBT Network set up an emergency hotline after learning about a law enforcement crackdown

Since reports started coming nearly two weeks ago of authorities in Chechnya arresting and torturing men suspected of being gay, an advocacy group says it has received increasing pleas for help from people who have been targeted, NBC News reported.

"We have received about 30 unique messages since April 2," said Natalia Poplevskaia, the International Advocacy Officer and Monitoring Program Coordinator with the Russian LGBT Network.

She said the messages are "from residents or former residents of Chechnya who have already been evacuated through their channels."

Poplevskaia told NBC News the organization set up an emergency hotline after learning about a law enforcement crackdown on Chechen men who are believed to be gay or bisexual.

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