Joe Biden Condemns Human Rights Abuses Against Gay Men in Chechnya

Former Vice President Joe Biden is calling on the Trump administration to address the abuse of gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya.

At least 100 gay men have been arrested and detained in concentration camps in the region, and they have reportedly been subjected to beatings, electrical shocks, and other abuse. Three deaths have been reported. Biden released a statement Friday condeming the situation.

Read the full statement from Biden below:

I am disgusted and appalled by reports from both the Russian media and non-governmental organizations that authorities in the Russian republic of Chechnya have rounded up, tortured, and even murdered individuals who are believed to be gay. When faced with such crimes of hate and inhumanity, it is the responsibility of every person of conscience to speak out -- to oppose this campaign of violence before it continues further.

Every man or woman on this earth is entitled to be treated with dignity -- to live without fear and to love freely. Unfortunately, the human rights abuses perpetrated by Chechen authorities and the culture of impunity that surrounds them means that these hate crimes are unlikely to ever be properly investigated or that the perpetrators will see justice. But that does not mean that we should fail to defend basic human rights, fundamental freedoms, and universal values.

I hope that the current administration lives up to the promises it has made to advance human rights for everyone by raising this issue directly with Russia's leaders. The United States must lead the way to demand an end to these egregious violations of human rights.

The State Department released a statement condemning the treatment of gay men in Chechnya last week, but President Donald Trump has yet to make a statement about the situation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman denied the allegations Friday. Chechen authories continue to deny that gay men are being tortured and detained, despite reports from news outlets, and even claim that gay people do not exist in Chechnya.

GLAAD has called on Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to investigate the claims. The Human Rights Campaign has also asked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to bring up the allegations with Putin himself.