Yelena Grigoryeva
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Yelena Grigoryeva | |
|---|---|
| Died | July 21, 2019 |
| Occupations | Human rights and LGBTQ rights activist |
| Known for | Opposing the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation |
Yelena 'Lena' Grigoryeva[1] (1977/1978 – July 21, 2019) was a human rights and LGBTQ rights activist. She also opposed the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.[2][3][4] She was murdered in St. Petersburg, Russia on 21 July 2019, when she was stabbed and strangled to death by unknown assailants, her body being found by a passer-by near her home.[4] Grigoryeva's identifying information had appeared in July on a website created by a group calling themselves ‘Saw’ after the American horror film franchise. The group encouraged readers to hunt and murder a list of LGBTQ+ people. Saw's website was blocked in Russia but a new list of LGBTQ+ activists, journalists and citizens is circulating on social media apps and messaging apps in the country, still encouraging others to murder LGBTQ+ people in Russia.[citation needed]
Grigoryeva had protested publicly in support of the Khachaturian sisters not long before her death. She also participated in anti-war and pro-democracy demonstrations,[3] and had protested for the release of Crimean Tatars living in occupied Crimea in Ukraine accused of terrorism, against Russia's military activities in Ukraine, and against domestic violence.[1]