A Toronto-based charity said Friday it has helped 35 LGBT individuals escape from Chechnya, 31 of whom have now arrived in Canada. He said Rainbow Railroad handled the evacuations. He said he went to Russia in May to meet with LGBT people seeking asylum and established a partnership with Ottawa. Rainbow Railroad executive director Kimahli Powell says there are about 40 Chechens still in safehouses waiting to leave Russia. Founded in 2006, Rainbow Railroad says on its website that its mission is to "seek safe haven from state-enabled violence, murder or persecution" of LGBT people.

Source: CBC News September 01, 2017 22:07 UTC