On October 25 at 12:00, the Glavkom Press Center (8/20 Shovkovychna Str.) will host a press conference on the persecution and assault that place in Odesa of Ihor Zakharchenko, an openly gay person and active participant of human rights rallies.

The press conference will be attended by:

Ihor Zakharchenko, a victim

Dmytro Mazurok, a lawyer and representative of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union

Oleksandr Zinchenko, an expert, LGBT Human Rights ‘NASH SVIT’ [Our World] Center

Zoryan Kis, an advocacy manager, Freedom House Ukraine

Circumstances of the case:

On October 22 (Sunday) at 11 pm, Ihor Zakharchenko and his partner were attacked at the entrance to the house, where he lives. The attack was committed by two unknown persons. As a result, they inflicted light bodily injuries on Mr. Zakharchenko. His partner is in a difficult mental condition, having panic attacks symptoms.

Important!

On October 18, at the entrance to the house, where the victim and his partner lived, there were threatening homophobic inscriptions on the walls (Photo 1, Photo 2). Since that day, they did not stay at home. This circumstance indicates that the unknown persons could wait for Ihor and his partner at the house for several days in order to commit the attack.

The police took inadequate actions and had insufficient reactions to the event. No prompt actions were taken. The case of the attack was not registered.

Ihor Zakharchenko has been already attacked for the third time. The two previous cases – the beating during KyivPride in 2016 and the beating in Odesa – have not yet been investigated.

Human rights defenders consider the situation to be very dangerous. Persecution, beating, and impunity can lead to more severe consequences. There is an obvious threat to life.

Contact person:

Vladyslav Petrov

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel .: +38 063-99-032-66