Angela Merkel has urged Vladimir Putin to investigate reports of the torture and persecution of gay men in Chechnya and to ensure the safety of LGBT people across the region. Merkel also raised concerns over restrictions on the freedom of assembly in Russia, following the arrest by riot police of people demonstrating against the anti-gay campaign. It was well known that hybrid warfare plays a role in Russia’s military doctrine, Merkel added. But unsurprisingly it was dominated by the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, with Merkel urging Russia to guarantee ceasefires that have repeatedly failed in both countries. On Ukraine, where Russia supports separatist rebels fighting the Kiev government, Merkel said she and Putin were of “completely different opinions over the cause” of the conflict.

Source: The Guardian May 02, 2017 16:32 UTC