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Kazakhstan's hostility toward gays under fire

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MOSCOW (AP) A leading human rights organization has criticized Kazakhstan's hostility toward gay people ahead of a vote to pick the host for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Human Rights Watch on Thursday issued a 31-page report documenting violence and discrimination that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face in the Central Asian nation.

The group said gays in Kazakhstan live in ''the climate of fear,'' facing violence and discrimination. HRW called on the government there to take immediate steps to improve the situation.

The International Olympic Committee is to vote on July 31 to award the 2022 Winter Games either to Almaty or Beijing.