Teenager Ivan Kharchenko was rescued by activists after being incarcerated in a rehab centre by his family for coming out. The teenager was placed in unwillingly in the care of Moscow’s Marshak facility on April 13 by his father.

Pink News reported that the young man’s father had told the son ‘I’d rather have you disabled or a vegetable than gay.’

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The activists who freed Kharchenko successfully argued that he had been kidnapped and placed in the centre without his consent. According to his lawyer Violetta Volova there was no evidence he was abusing drugs or alcohol, however the centre had drugged the young man to the point that he couldn’t remember friends’ names. Kharchenko is now in the care of his mother, who is said to be supportive.