Elza Soltaeva detained in Kazakhstan after escaping from Chechnya

Elza Soltaeva, a native of Chechnya, who had fled domestic violence, has been detained by the police in Kazakhstan. She has stated that her relatives were persecuting her, and she feared for her life.

According to a video posted in the Telegram channel of the "Marem" human rights group, on February 3, Elza, a 24-year-old young woman, ran away from home "because of misunderstandings and domestic violence."

Vladislav Khorev, an activist, who helped Elza with her escape, has stated that "her relatives would not give out her documents claiming that she needs to meet them, but she doesn’t want this, as she is afraid that they might kill her."

The police insisted that Soltaeva could not have left home, leaving her children there, although Elza's husband (their father) remains with them.

Later, the "Marem" human rights group reported that an advocate had contacted Soltaeva thanks to the wide publicity of her case. After that, the situation with her detention was resolved. However, human rights defenders doubt about Elza’s safety.

She still needs help, and not from volunteers, but from the state protection system, Svetlana Anokhina wrote on the Instagram*.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina had granted asylum to Selima Khadisova, a native of Chechnya, who had fled from domestic violence, the "Vayfond" human rights organization reported in its Telegram channel on December 26, 2024.

*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.