ECtHR’s decision highlights problems with safety of shelters

The decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on a complaint filed by Svetlana Anokhina and Maisarat Kilyaskhanova, against whom law enforcers used force in a shelter, should remind the authorities of Russia that the problem of the safety of shelters, especially in Northern Caucasus, has not been resolved, believe members of NGOs.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the European Court of Human Rights indicated a violation of the article on the prohibition of torture and degrading treatment and obliged the authorities of Russia to pay compensation to human rights defenders Svetlana Anokhina and Maisarat Kilyaskhanova, who stayed in a Makhachkala shelter during a visit of the law enforcers who forcibly took away Khalimat Taramova, a native of Chechnya.

The decision of the ECtHR will not change the situation with shelters in the Russian Federation, believes Aida Mirmaksumova, the head of the “Fathers and Daughters” project. According to the human rights defender, the situation with providing assistance to victims of domestic violence in Dagestan has become noticeably more complicated.

“There are rare cases when extremely brave people visit the republic and provide assistance. But mostly everything is being done remotely. As practice has shown, it is no longer safe to stay in shelters. In Dagestan, the situation with safety in shelters is poor,” noted the human rights defender.

“Everyone who is engaged in defending women’s rights and helps victims of domestic violence continues to be under serious threat,” believes Saida Sirazhudinova, the president of the Centre for Research on Global Issues of the Present and Regional Problems “Caucasus. World. Development”. According to her, it is becoming more difficult to provide help to victims of violence.

“In recent years, domestic violence has been decriminalized, but human rights defenders are not protected,” emphasized Saida Sirazhudinova.

The draft law “On the Prevention of Domestic Violence” has not yet been adopted, recalls Alyona Popova, a co-founder of the “You are not alone” women’s mutual assistance network. The human rights defender also notes with regret that there are currently not enough shelters in Russia.