To mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), which is observed annually on 17 May, the Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM) has published a new regional report on violations of the rights of LGBT people in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
According to the report ‘Between Law and Reality’, 647 cases of violations of LGBT people’s rights were documented in seven countries across the region in 2025. These countries are Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
The authors of the study emphasise that these are not isolated incidents, but a systemic problem affecting virtually all areas of life — from personal safety to access to healthcare and interactions with state institutions. Among the most common violations are threats to disclose sexual orientation or gender identity, extortion, blackmail, physical and sexual violence, discrimination in employment, housing and services, as well as denial of medical care and the disclosure of confidential information.
The report devotes particular attention to digital violence. In particular, researchers documented cases of so-called ‘staged dates’, where online dating platforms were used for blackmail, extortion and attacks on LGBT people.
ECOM notes that the forms of pressure vary by country. In Uzbekistan, for instance, the situation is exacerbated by criminalisation and the use of medical data against LGBT people. In Tajikistan, law enforcement agencies play a significant role, whilst in Kazakhstan, raids, outing and online harassment are widespread. In Kyrgyzstan, cases of extortion and violence are frequently reported, particularly through ‘staged dates’. In Ukraine, the report states, violations occur more frequently in everyday life and are further exacerbated by the war. In Armenia and Moldova, researchers have documented barriers to access to protection, housing and various services.
Experts from the ECOM legal team state that homophobic and transphobic sentiments are on the rise in the region, particularly in countries where anti-LGBT laws are being passed. At the same time, the LGBT community continues to be used in political rhetoric against opponents. The organisation emphasises that, against a backdrop of shrinking civic space, monitoring violations of LGBT people’s rights enables trends to be tracked, new risks to be identified and systematic support for the community to be built in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.