Ruslan Kutayev, the Chechen member representing Russia's indigenous peoples and minorities within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), was suspended due to his statements about LGBTQ+ individuals and honor killings in the North Caucasus. In his remarks, Kutayev stated that he defends the conservative values of the Chechen community, and although he did not directly approve honor killings, he refrained from condemning them.
In an interview, Kutayev expressed that society takes such behaviors related to LGBTQ+ individuals very seriously and that the majority's rights should be protected. He also said that honor is the most important value in Chechen culture and that the family has the duty to protect this value. When asked about honor killings, he stated that the decision is entirely within the family's authority.
PACE President Petra Bayr announced that Kutayev's membership was temporarily suspended following complaints about his statements. The final evaluation of the decision will be made at the next meeting of the PACE bureau. Human rights organizations such as the North Caucasus SOS Crisis Group reacted by describing Kutayev's statements as human rights violations.
Kutayev stated that his statements were misunderstood and that he does not approve of violence. This development in PACE has once again brought attention to sensitivities regarding human rights and minority rights in the North Caucasus.