Marriage of Guchigov and Goylabieva reveals vulnerability of first wives

The scandalous marriage in Chechnya has revealed the problem that women of Chechnya misunderstand their rights and guarantees. This opinion has been expressed by lawyers and human rights defenders interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". Meanwhile, the Russian State Duma has refused to discuss the initiative to impose responsibility for polygamy.

On May 16, in Grozny, Nazhud Guchigov, the chief of the ROVD (District Interior Division) of the Nozhai-Yurt District of Chechnya, and 17-year-old Kheda (Louiza) Goylabieva got married. It has been reported that the girl has been forced to marry and that caused a public resonance in Chechnya. It was reported that, according to some sources, the police chief wanted to marry the girl as his second wife.

The first wife of Nazhud Guchigov will not return to her parental home, since the spouses lived together during many years. This was stated by Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, an expert of the International Crisis Group.

According to Chechen traditions, children of any age remain with their father. This was emphasized by Zakir Magomedov, an editor-in-chief of the Internet portal "Daptar" highlighting the problems of the Dagestani women.

Meanwhile, according to Ekaterina Mizulina, an agent of Elena Mizulina, the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children Affairs, the information disseminated by the media concerning the MPs' intention to introduce responsibility for polygamy is false.

In his turn, Mikhail Fedotov, the Chairman of Human Rights Council (HRC), has offered the public to think over how to "harmonize the Russian legislation requirements with regard to the national and religious traditions."

The situation with the marriage of Guchigov and Goylabieva should be considered from the point of view of compulsion to marriage. This opinion was expressed by Svetlana Gannushkina, the head of the Committee "Civil Assistance".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.