Police instructed to ensure safety of Fatima Zurabova, escapee from domestic violence

Fatima Zurabova was brought in for questioning in connection with an application about her disappearance, the Investigating Committee (IC) of Armenia has informed. The police are tasked with ensuring the safety of a native of Ingushetia, who had escaped from domestic violence.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that human rights defenders informed that the relative, who came to pick up the young woman, threatened her with prison for escaping. The Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly filed a petition with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), demanding a ban on Zurabova's extradition to Russia. On November 15, it became known that Fatima had been released and placed into some safe place.

Gor Abramyan, the IC's press secretary, has written on the Facebook* that Zurabova's whereabouts had been unknown for more than three days; therefore, a criminal case was opened under the article "Murder".

"On November 14, policemen found Fatima Zurabova and brought her in for questioning as a witness. In her testimony she stated that in Ingushetia she was subjected to violence," Mr Abramyan has noted, adding that Zurabova has expressed no desire to return to Ingushetia because of threats.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.