Investigators ignore Solomina's statement about threats from Chechnya

Three days after the statement made by Tatiana Solomina about the threats received by her from her client's relatives living in Chechnya, investigators have failed to question her, which is contrary to the requirement of the law, the SK SOS Crisis Group* has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 5, it became known that Tatiana Solomina, an advocate, began receiving threats against herself and her son after she had provided legal help to a resident of Chechnya who had fled from domestic violence; the threats came from her client's mother. Human rights defenders have noted that those who try to help victims of domestic violence in the republics of Northern Caucasus often find themselves at risk; they begin receiving threats from victims' family members.

Investigators were due to conduct an inquiry within three days, but have still done nothing, the SK SOS Crisis Group* has reported in its Telegram channel.

"In order to conduct an efficient and timely inquiry, an investigator should try to question the applicant as soon as possible. If this is not done, a question arises about investigators' interest in conducting such an inquiry," Osip Drozdovsky, a lawyer with the SK SOS Crisis Group*, has noted.

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