Russia Jails Six for Torturing Gay Youth

A group of people who physically tortured gay men in Russia has been jailed.

Gay Star News reports that Russian police have finally arrested members of Occupy Pedophilia--a Neo-Nazi vigilante group known for luring gay teens and young men through dating ads with the intent of abusing them.

When the teens responded to the ads, they were captured, often bullied and tortured, then forced to come out as gay on videos intended to be shared with their friends, family, and community members. After this abuse and humiliation, many were driven to suicide.

Nine members have been found guilty of torture, death, threats, and inflicting "moderate damage to health" to at least 19 people. The Sinarsky District Court Kamensk-Ural has sentenced six members to prison for three to six years. Three others received suspended sentences.

The Advocatefirst reported on the group in July 2013, shortly after Russian president Vladimir Putin signed into law a ban on so-called "homosexual propaganda," which prohibited demonstrations and discussion of "non-traditional sexual relations" with minors.

Led by Neo-Nazi Maxim Martsinkevich, who is currently serving jail time for "hooliganism," Occupy Pedophilia claimed its aim was to "identify and report pedophiles," and that it was protecting children through its acts of humiliating and often brutalizing the young men captured.