Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor:  Joseph Golder,  Agency: Newsflash

This image shows how a gay transsexual was left covered in blood in a brutal sex attack, but Ukrainian police have treated the case only as a robbery.

The shocking incident took place in the city of Zhytomyr in the south-central Ukrainian region of Zhytomyr Oblast when the unnamed 19-year-old transsexual man met with another man on the Badoo dating-focused social network.

The transactional man who was wearing women’s clothing met estate at his home which he shares with his parents, and the two decided to go and buy drink, and then to go to a local forest where they could sit by the river for the date.

Reports state the date did not go well as an argument started, and the transsexual man was then forced to perform oral sex on the other man. He then called his pals.

Local human rights activist Andriy Kravchuk said a gang of four young men and a young girl then went to the scene and continued assaulting the victim.

The girl reportedly placed the victim in handcuffs and he later told police they had repeatedly sexually assaulted him added he was ‘barely conscious” throughout the ordeal.

The gang stole the man’s phone and wallet before reportedly forcing him to run naked in front of their car towards his house. His father saw the scene and called the police as the aggressors fled.

The victim, reportedly a gay man who occasionally wears female clothing, filed a complaint about the rape but the authorities reportedly only opened a case into robbery.

Local human rights activists and the victim’s family are reportedly working to have an investigation into gang rape opened.

Reports state the main suspect is believed to be a local 17-year-old sportsman but this information was not confirmed by the police. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been reported.

Hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity have not yet been criminalized in Ukraine, and Androy told newsflash: “There are currently laws that prevent discrimination based on race, nationality and religion. They were supposed to introduce them over gender three years ago, but nothing has happened yet.”

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.