Gay men are being rounded up and killed in the Northern Caucus Russian-controlled Republic of Chechnya, according to a bombshell report by the New York Times. Local law enforcement has detained gay men (at least 100), “…in connection with their nontraditional sexual orientation, or suspicion of such.” In the report, the paper named at least three men who were murdered, but this number is most likely much higher.

According to Mic: “…the round-up is the Chechen government’s response to a gay rights group’s effort began applying for parade permits in the North Caucasus. Filing applications with the expectation that they would be denied, GayRussia.ru wanted to highlight a pattern of discrimination. But the area, which is heavily Muslim, is vehemently anti-LGBTQ rights, so much so that just filing a petition led to outrage. ”

So far the Chechen Republic is denying the reports. “…absolute lies and disinformation,” according to the Times. He explained that the arrests couldn’t have happened because “you cannot arrest or repress people who just don’t exist in the republic,” said a spokesperson.