You may have heard of Chechnya’s recent cruelty against gay men, and the reports of abduction and disappearances alongside accounts of the torture and death of homosexual and bisexual persons.

LGBT men have reportedly been electrocuted, beaten, verbally abused and even killed by authorities. If these operations don’t get a hold of them, there’s chance that being outed as homosexual will result in violence and even murder by victims families who have supposedly had their honor tarnished.

Authorities have had the audacity to flat out deny the process is taking place at all with Alvi Karimov, a spokesperson for Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya’s leader, stating the purge is false on the basis that no homosexuals exist in the republic in the first place.

Not only is such a demographic wrong, an array of evidence including personal experiences of abductions, along with information received by non-government organizations like the International Crisis Group, indicates that the report is likely very real.

Novaya Gazeta, one of the nation’s only independent newspapers - and the original source of the report - fears for its employees’ safety after Kadyrov labeled it an enemy of the land's values. Novaya’s former journalists have literally been murdered in connection with fighting rights abuses under Chechnya’s current rulership.

Tyrannous leadership like that of Kadyrov, who enforces ultra-conservative ideologies and practices to control its people, will not change. Now is the time we act. Since it appears that the Kremlin is dismissive of these issues, international countries must act by placing pressure against Russian authorities.

But what can we do?

While you might lack the power of government officials, your actions are of utmost importance.

Non-governmental organizations like ILGA-Europe and the Russian LGBT Network are making the effort to contact victims of Chechnya’s abuse, supporting them and helping to evacuate them from the republic. ILGA-Europe is working alongside international LGBTQIA organizations like Stonewall: what you can do is support them, for they are open for donations to help victims.

Organizations like the Russian LGBT Network are working alongside AllOut to fundraise for victims, the group providing a hotline for victims to ensure at-risk persons receive support - they, too, are open for donations. Amnesty International, a major human rights organization, has released a petition to call out Chechnya's tyrannical treatment of gay and bisexual men as well; something you should sign and spread.

People’s lives are at risk, but it’s important we listen to LGBTQIA organizations within Russia to ensure our efforts do not put people in any more danger. Because of this, take into consideration the advice these efforts provide: they are far better aware of how to handle the situation with less risk involved.

Spread these organizations, petitions and donation pages, but at the same time ensure you’re checking the validity of others you see crop up. Support safe sanctuary of LGBT refugees from Russia, also, because the Kremlin can’t be trusted to aid the people it claims to protect.

Do not be silent.