This documentary can be intensely difficult to experience at times, as the close-up photography effectively portrays the mistreatment of homosexuals within the self-declared Russian Republic mentioned in the title. While President Putin’s government in Moscow claims there's no organized abuse occurring, the local governor, Ramzan Kadyrov, dismisses the existence of gay people in Chechnya, suggesting that if they do exist, they are somehow corrupting the region’s heritage and plotting against others. The ways these attackers carry out their assaults are surprisingly elaborate. They locate victims through social media, then utilize personal networks to identify more targets – all with the goal of severely beating them and abandoning the injured and traumatized individuals with clear warnings to leave the area. The film highlights the attempts made by different organizations to offer assistance, but they encounter either apathy or outright opposition from national authorities whose involvement in this "purging" is barely concealed. The danger these people face is powerfully conveyed, and the fact that many have their faces blurred emphasizes the genuine risks posed by a vigilante element within society that disregards human rights entirely. It’s one of those ingrained prejudices that perfectly exemplifies bullying behavior. Those who are escaping are frequently frightened, but they aren't prepared to abandon their struggle for equality and legal protection. However, those in positions of power simply manipulate or obscure the law, making it even more challenging for them to attain basic safety or achieve justice. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it is ultimately worthwhile.

Source on TMDB