Ukrainian special forces have confirmed that they killed Chechen general Magomed Tushayev, who was notably known for carrying out a purge against homosexuals.
“Magomed Tushayev, leader of 141and motorized regiment of the Chechen National Guard, was shot down!”, one could read on the official twitter account of the Ukrainian forces.
Знищено Магомеда Тушаєва, керівника 141 моторизованого полку кадировської гвардії!pic.twitter.com/BHmoCGOKJU
— ВОЇНИ УКРАЇНИ(@ArmedForcesUkr) February 26, 2022
“While I never rejoice in the murder of anyone, their death means one less mass murderer on the loose. Those who live by the sword should not be surprised if they die by the sword. This means he will no longer be able to abduct, torture and kill LGBT people, which is a good thing,” said Peter Tatchell, an LGBTQ+ activist and human rights activist at The Jerusalem Post.
LGBTQ+ held in camps by Tushayev
And for good reason. Magomed Tushayev was one of Ramzan Kadyrov’s three main advisers and military commanders. He is notably accused of having detained dozens of men suspected of being homosexual, in camps where he subjected them to the worst humiliations by depriving them of food and torturing them.
In 2017, the independent Russian newspaper Novaia Gazeta revealed to the world the existence of these purges targeting homosexuals. In addition to kidnappings and torture, the daily also reported mass executions.
As part of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, no less than 10,000 Chechen soldiers were mobilized to fight alongside Vladimir Putin’s soldiers.
