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).
The muftis of the North Caucasus have repeatedly spoken out in support of the people of Palestine and called on Muslims to pray for them. At the same time, in its statement yesterday, the Coordination Center for Muslims of the North Caucasus called anti-Semitic actions and incitement of ethnic hatred against the backdrop of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict unacceptable.
“In recent days, we have been faced with provocations of destructive forces who, purely for their own selfish interests, in order to incite interfaith hatred in the North Caucasus, are trying to encourage Muslims to take to the streets against all Jews, including those who have been living peacefully on our territory for centuries. This is contrary to the spirit of the Islamic religion and the traditions of our peoples. Anti-Semitism has no place in the multinational North Caucasus,” the appeal states.
The day before, protests took place in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and Dagestan demanding the eviction of all Jews from the republics and preventing the arrival of Israeli citizens. Participants also spoke out in support of Palestine.