19:47, 30 August 2023

Chechen Ombudsperson reports on his meeting with Seda Suleimanova

Mansur Soltaev and Seda Suleimanova. Photo: https://t.me/chechombudsman/2259

Seda Suleimanova, who was detained by Chechen law enforcers in Saint Petersburg, is now with her relatives; she is not in danger, Mansur Soltaev, the Chechen Ombudsperson, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 23, Seda Suleimanova, 26, who had fled from Chechnya to Saint Petersburg, and her boyfriend, were visited by policemen who took them to the police station. Law enforcers stated that the young woman was suspected of stealing some jewellery. Then she was taken to the airport to be sent back to Chechnya. In Grozny, law enforcers interrogated Suleimanova as a witness in the case of jewellery theft, and handed her over to her uncle and aunt. Advocates were not allowed to meet their client, referring to Seda's refusal from advocates' services, the SK SOS Crisis Group* has reported.

In October 2022, Seda turned to the SK SOS Crisis Group*, as she was afraid that her family might commit an "honour killing" – her relatives from Grozny were not satisfied with her absence of due religiosity. This January, she found a job and decided to stay in Saint Petersburg.

"I met Seda Suleimanova. During the conversation, I was convinced that she was in no danger, she was in safety. I talked with her relatives and with Seda herself. She feels good. There are no violations of rights and no harassment against her," Mansur Soltaev wrote in his Telegram channel.

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

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 29, 2023 at 07:16 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot