Chechen woman who ran away from home detained in Saint Petersburg

Policemen came to the 26-year-old Seda Suleimanova, who had fled from Chechnya, and her partner and took them to the police station. Then the young man was released, and the young woman was taken to the airport to be sent back to Chechnya, human rights defenders have informed.

Seda was detained on August 23. Her boyfriend said he was returning from work. At the entrance he was met by four men; two of them introduced themselves as policemen and showed their IDs. The two others were Chechens in civilian clothes. They demanded to open the apartment, took the girl out of the flat and convoyed both of them to the police station, the SK SOS Crisis Group* has reported in its Telegram channel.

Law enforcers have stated that Seda was suspected of stealing some jewellery worth 150,000 roubles. Abduction under the guise of a fabricated criminal case is a common practice used to forcibly return those who have fled to Chechnya.

In October 2022, Seda turned to S SK SOS Crisis Group*, as she was afraid that her family might commit an “honour killing” – her relatives from Grozny were unhappy with her insufficient religiosity. In January, 2023, Seda found a job and decided to stay in Saint Petersburg. In February of this year, relatives already tried to abduct her.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that in Moscow, Chechen law enforcers took away Selima Ismailova, who had fled from domestic violence. On June 13, the girl, accompanied by law enforcers, was brought by air to Grozny. Advocates failed to establish her whereabouts.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.