Three Chechens who were filmed taking part in group sex early this year have been killed, a local police source told Caucasus.Realities.
The video featuring two men and two women went viral and allegedly angered the leadership of Russia's tightly controlled, predominantly Muslim, republic of Chechnya.
All four participants were arrested at the request of the government, but one woman -- who was not Chechen -- was eventually let go.
The other three were buried two weeks ago in another town, the local police source said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak. The officer said they were killed but did not know the exact cause of death.
The local government has declined to comment.
Under the leadership of strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya has persecuted sexual minorities, sparking international outrage.
Chechen police have not only tortured members of the gay community, demanding they identify other LGBT people, but have killed several of them, according to human rights groups.