Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).
A new charge has been brought against social activist Bakhtiyar Gadzhiev, who is being held in a pre-trial detention center in Baku. He is charged with Art. 213.1 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion). “The legal deadlines for conducting the investigation have expired, and new charges are being brought against Bakhtiyar,” noted human rights activist Rufat Safarov.
Bakhtiyar Gadzhiev was detained on December 9, 2022 on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. In July, he was also charged with illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, and smuggling.
All the charges brought are fabricated, and the real reason for the arrest is punishment for criticizing the authorities, Bakhtiyar Gadzhiev is convinced. Human rights activists recognized him as a political prisoner.