TikTok Couple Speak Out After Escaping Persecution and Arrest in Russia

By Christine Siamanti Kinori

Haoyang and Gela, a famous LGBTQ+ TikTok couple, met on a dating app two years ago while living in Russia. They soon fell in love and started a YouTube channel about their day-to-day life as a couple. Unfortunately, their channel attracted the attention of the homophobic Russian government, which ultimately led to their persecution, arrest, and refugee in France.

In April 2023, the police set a trap for Haoyang and Gela. The police asked to see Haoyang’s passport and registration documents, and although the couple tried to show the authorities the relevant documents, they were escorted to the police station anyway. You can read more about their arrest here.

We caught up with the couple to see how they were fairing in France and asked them a few questions. Here is what they had to say:

What inspired you to start a Youtube Channel as a couple?

Before I met Haoyang, I already had an account on TikTok, so when I met Haoyang, we just started making videos without thinking and having received a great response, we decided to continue sharing our life and experiences with others to share the belief that everyone has the right to happiness, despite the homophobic society in Russia. We created the YouTube channel after the military invasion of Ukraine began. Since many sanctions were imposed on Russia, Instagram and TikTok were blocked, so we decided to shoot videos on YouTube so as not to lose our audience, especially in such a difficult period when persecution and repression began against LGBTQ+.

What has been your favorite prank video?

It’s probably the “Ignore my boyfriend for 24 hours” prank

You are very open with your fans through your content. What has the feedback been, and do you have favorite fan interaction?

Yes, this year, our subscribers from Russia very strongly supported us. They helped us financially so that we could leave Russia. They also waged an information war on social networks, helping to spread our story and collect signatures for our release from prison. We recently made friends with a girl in Germany; she also supported us the entire time. And we will meet her in Paris for Christmas soon.

Earlier this year you went through a rough patch that forced you to leave Russia. Can you tell us more about that?

Despite violations by the police, the judge found us guilty. Haoyang was kept in a pre-trial detention centre for 30 days and deported from Russia. I fled Russia with my cat, and we were reunited in Turkey, but we were persecuted there too. The Russian authorities tried to force Turkey to hand me over to them since they opened criminal cases against me for discrediting the army, extremism and calling for the overthrow of the government. Therefore, we fled to Georgia. In Georgia pro-Russian groups were looking for us, but we managed to fly away after waiting for a visa to France.

How was that experience and how are you doing now?

We lived in fear and horror, not knowing how our life would turn out because not a single country would issue us a visa. Only France gave us a visa after six months, and we left on September 1. We flew to France and are now safe. We asked for refugee from France. Probably because we did not give up despite all the obstacles and difficulties that happened to us, our love and devotion only became stronger.

What inspires you now?

To eradicate homophobia, xenophobia, racism and any discrimination. I want to create a free and tolerant world where everyone is safe and happy

About the Author

Christine Siamanta Kinori grew up in a little village in Kenya known as Loitoktok near the border of Kenya and Tanzania. All she wanted to do when she grew up was to explore the world. Her curiosity led her to join Nairobi University to pursue a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She later got a job with an amazing travel magazine Nomad Africa which gave her the opportunity to explore Africa. She also writes for numerous travel websites about Africa and tries to create a new narrative in the media about our aesthetic continent.

Christine claims to have somewhat unhealthy addiction to TV and reading, as it is a fun way to keep herself occupied during the long journeys for her travel writing. She is also a believer of letting people be their beautiful selves. To her, love is love and it is the greatest gift we have as humans.