According to the rating of the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association ILGA, Azerbaijan is the most intolerant country in Europe with regard to sexual minorities. Azerbaijan ranked 49th among 49 countries, after Russia (48th) and Armenia (47th.)
According to the authors of the list, the UK is a country where social equality is the most respected. In the first three are Belgium and Malta.
"A common feature uniting Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, is that these countries want to distance themselves from the West, and the struggle against homosexuality is in the center of this movement," said the representative of ILGA-Europe Bjorn van Roosendaal.
The organization noted that sexual minorities in Azerbaijan are least protected from hate crimes and discrimination, even though homosexuality there is not illegal.