Elena Patyaeva left Chechnya

After being released from the police department in Grozny, Elena Patyaeva left Chechnya as soon as she had the opportunity.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on August 23, Chechen security forces drew up a protocol against Elena Patyaeva for repeated violations of public action rules after her solo picket demanding an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova. Patyaeva faces up to 30 days of arrest or a fine.

Elena Patyaeva stated that she left Chechnya. "I left Chechnya at the first opportunity, as soon as I was released from the department. Whether there was a trial or not, although I was told it was supposed to take place today, honestly, I don't even know," she told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

Patyaeva's defense also does not have information on whether the trial took place. "We do not know if there was a trial. We don't even know what happened to the protocol [regarding Patyaeva], what its fate is," said lawyer Natalia Tikhonova to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

If the court issues a ruling to hold Patyaeva administratively liable, it will be appealed, the lawyer emphasized. "As soon as there is a ruling, if there is one, we will appeal it immediately," she noted.

There is no information on the district courts' websites in Grozny regarding the administrative case against Elena Patyaeva.

"Caucasian Knot" currently does not have a comment from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Chechnya regarding the materials concerning Patyaeva.

Recall that on August 23, 2023, Seda Suleymanova was detained in St. Petersburg and sent to relatives in Chechnya. After that, she stopped communicating. In April 2024, it became known that her disappearance is being investigated under the article on murder. Friends of Seda and human rights activists fear that she has become a victim of gender-motivated murder.