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 Supreme Court of Crimea is considering the claim of the Ministry of Justice to liquidate the Muslim community "Alushta". According to the department, "Alushta" "committed actions aimed at carrying out extremist activities."
The claims of the Ministry of Justice are related to the fact that Lenur Khalilov and Ruslan Mesutov, who were convicted in cases of participation in the Islamic party "Hizb ut-Tahrir", were untimely expelled from the community. In addition, administrative cases were brought against "Alushta" under the article on the distribution of extremist materials (Article 20.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses), and against its imam Yusuf Ashirov - under the article on illegal missionary work (Article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
"The community is independent," noted lawyer Rustem Kyamilev, "It is not controlled by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimea (DUMK) and, accordingly, by the state. As we know, the state's rhetoric on such independent communities is as follows: they are legally permitted, but their number is minimal. They try to influence its processes in every possible way, both legal and illegal."