*Homophobia, Yelena Grigoriyeva murdered. Arcigay: "This is a horrifying news that further alarms relations between Italy and Russia."* *Bologna, July 23, 2019* – "We read with profound shock the news of the brutal murder of Yelena Grigoriyeva, an LGBTI activist, in Russia, not far from her home," said Gabriele Piazzoni, Secretary General of Arcigay. He continues: "Yelena was a target explicitly listed on sites inciting hatred and violence against LGBTI people. That incitement materialized in the most monstrous of ways. While we mourn Yelena's death and embrace with affection the people who shared her struggles, we cannot help but be alarmed by how similar incitement to hatred is happening in our country and by the murky ties that Italy, through Minister Matteo Salvini, is building with Russia, an openly homophobic government in which these events are anything but new or occasional. Yesterday, on social media, Giuseppe Cannata, vice president of the Vercelli City Council, incited the extermination of gays and lesbians from his Facebook profile: today that person is under investigation for incitement to crime. Not only that: in recent days, a request for the registration of same-sex families has been circulating in several city councils, prompted by the Brothers of Italy party, following some recent events. This is why the news of Yelena's murder terrifies us and pushes us to demand clear words from this government regarding its relations with Russia, as well as an unequivocal condemnation of what happened,“ concludes Piazzoni.
