First Case of Homophobic Violence in 2025

Recently, the first case of homophobic violence this year was reported to our organization. A
gay young man was attacked in his apartment by an acquaintance of a friend.

During the attack, the perpetrator shouted: “All of you should be killed!” and “I’ll break your ribs
one by one!”, which gives reasonable grounds to believe that the attack was motivated by
homophobia.

We emphasize that establishing homophobia as the motive for the attack is of key importance,
since, under Article 45 of the Criminal Code, perpetrators of crimes motivated by hatred toward
personal characteristics (such as sexual orientation) face harsher penalties than in cases where
such a motive is absent.

We have contacted the young man and offered him support, and we will stand by him
throughout the legal proceedings related to this case.