Donald Trump’s White House has finally spoken out against the gay purge in Chechnya

Donald Trump’s administration has finally spoken out against Chechnya’s persecution of gay men.

In an interview which aired on HBO yesterday, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov called gay people the “devil” and once again denied reports of the gay purge in the region.

The leader added that if there were any gay people – who he emphasised were “not people” – living in the region, they should move to Canada.

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that her department found these comments to be “very concerning and also upsetting.”

She also assured reporters that the administration has raised the issue with Russian authorities “at the highest levels,” according to Associated Press.

Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have both decided not to speak about the gay purge during meetings with President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials in the past few weeks.

During the interview with HBO, Kadyrov also said that he would defend the rights of families to murder their gay relatives.

“If we have such people here, then I’m telling you officially, their relatives won’t let them be, because of our faith, our mentality, customs and traditions.

“Even if it’s punishable under the law, we would still condone it.”