Relatives of Seda Suleymanova told investigators investigating the disappearance of the Chechen woman that she herself ran away from home again in February. This was reported by the crisis group SK SOS.
25-year-old Seda Suleymanova fled in the fall of 2022 from relatives who forced her to marry and threatened her with “honor killing.” In January 2023, she arrived in St. Petersburg. Six months later, in August, the Chechen woman was detained by St. Petersburg police and handed over to the Chechen security forces — the formal reason for this was that Suleymanova was accused of theft at the request of her relatives.
Sela-Sata
In mid-November, SK SOS received photographs of the girl from relatives, but already For more than six months, nothing is known about the girl’s fate. Human rights activists feared that Suleymanova could have been killed by relatives. They organized mass appeals to law enforcement agencies and in March achieved the initiation of a criminal case.
The case was opened under the article of murder at the request of Suleymanova’s friend, St. Petersburg resident Elena Patyaeva (105 of the Criminal Code). Under this article, Russian investigators most often investigate missing persons. SK SOS believes that “a case under Article 105 is initiated only if the circumstances suggest murder.” Suleymanova’s mother was recognized as the victim.
According to human rights activists, relatives did not file reports of the girl’s disappearance. They told investigators that Seda Suleymanova left home on February 5. At the same time, on February 6, the publication Sever.Realii published material about a Chechen woman. As part of the preparation, his correspondent called Suleymanova’s relative. When asked about the disappearance, he replied: “Where is this whore? What do you mean, dead? Yes, here she lies!” — but refused to give her the phone.