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).
From February 23, students in all schools in Chechnya, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Adygea, North Ossetia, Ingushetia and Dagestan will listen to the song “I am Russian” by the pro-Kremlin singer Shaman every morning before classes.
This initiative was put forward by the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. It was supported by the ministries of education of the republics of the North Caucasus Federal District. In addition, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation also called this idea correct and recommended that it be included in the plan for patriotic education of schools throughout the country. “We will hold negotiations with the singer in the near future. “I am Russian” should be heard in all languages,” the ministry believes.