Human rights activists in Armenia have demanded an investigation into the death of Aishat Baimuradova.

Law enforcement agencies must immediately investigate the circumstances of the death of Chechen native Ayshat Baimuradova in Yerevan and provide a clear legal assessment of this case as an example of gender-based violence, activists said.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," 23-year-old Chechen native Ayshat Baimuradova, who fled domestic violence to Armenia with the help of human rights activists, failed to return from a walk on October 15 when she went to meet a friend. On October 17, police issued a search warrant for Baimuradova, and on October 19, Ayshat was found dead in a rented apartment on Demirchyan Street in Yerevan. Human rights activists suggested that the girl was the victim of a so-called "honor killing." Some users also speculated that Baimuradova's murder may have been a political hit, as she had argued with Kadyrov's supporters on social media.

Members of the Coalition to End Violence Against Women in Armenia have issued an appeal to the public, authorities, and law enforcement agencies in connection with the murder of a Chechen woman in Yerevan. The human rights activists note that they received the news of the death of the young woman, who fled Chechnya due to domestic violence and sought asylum in Armenia, "with deep sorrow."

"Aishat came to Armenia fleeing domestic violence and persecution, but was killed in the country where she was supposed to find safety. Such cases are not isolated; they once again demonstrate the prevalence and entrenched nature of gender-based violence," the coalition, which unites ten Armenian NGOs, said in a statement.

The authors of the statement note that representatives of "de facto authoritarian regimes are capable of achieving their goals even on the territory of Armenia, using their levers and mechanisms of influence." They are confident that individuals from Chechnya acting in the interests of the republic's authorities are directly involved in Baimuradova's death.

"We demand an immediate, full, independent, and transparent investigation to clarify all the circumstances of Aishat Baimuradova's death and a clear assessment of the policies and procedures of state bodies in responding to cases of gender-based violence in other countries. Aishat's murder is a painful reminder that women fleeing violence still do not find complete safety even in the places where they seek protection," the statement reads.

The document was published on social media by organizations that are part of the Coalition to End Violence Against Women. These are the Women's Resource Center, the Women's Support Center, the human rights NGO "Power of Law," the human rights NGO "Pink," the "Women's Rights House," the Crisis Center for Victims of Sexual Violence, the "Shushi Women's Center," the "Spitak Helsinki Group," the "Agat" Center for the Protection of the Rights of Women with Disabilities, and the social NGO "Real World, Real People."

The coalition members categorically condemn the phenomenon of domestic violence, and Ayshat Baimuradova, according to available information, was a victim of it for a long time, noted Gayane Hambardzumyan, a representative of the NGO "Women's Center. Shushi."

"We regret that she was unable to receive protection in her homeland and was forced to seek refuge and asylum in Armenia. "Unfortunately, Armenian law enforcement agencies were also unable to prevent the tragedy—although the woman may not have sought their help," the activist told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

She also recalled that victims of domestic violence "often refrain from contacting law enforcement agencies due to a lack of trust in their capabilities." "That is why the adoption of the Istanbul Convention is an important and necessary step for Armenia." "This international document has the potential to bring positive changes to the legislative system and create more effective mechanisms for protecting women's rights," Ambartsumyan emphasized.

Armenian journalist and human rights activist Ruzanna Hayrapetyan noted that ingrained traditions in the Caucasus often become an obstacle to women's development, and domestic violence in many communities in the region is still perceived as "the norm" and covered up with references to "traditions."

"They suppress, restrict, and sometimes force women to flee—saving not only their dignity but also their lives. These very traditions often become an excuse for inaction, including by law enforcement. The paradox is that society glorifies the image of women as mothers, keeper of the hearth, but at the same time allows these women to be humiliated, beaten, and deprived of their right to their own voice. "As long as violence remains part of the 'traditional' way of life, it is impossible to talk about genuine respect for women and their role in society," Ayrapetyan told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.