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 Investigative Directorate for Karachay-Cherkessia opened a criminal case against a 40-year-old local resident. She is accused under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist organization).
According to investigators, since 2017, the suspect, aware of the liquidation and ban of the religious organization “Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia,” voluntarily took part in it. The defendant studied and promoted extremist literature, maintained contacts with other members of the organization, and attended collective religious services and performances.
In 2017, the Supreme Court recognized the Management Center of Jehovah's Witnesses as an extremist organization and banned its activities. Many believers were accused of extremism and an attempt on the Constitutional system of the Russian Federation and were sentenced to real and suspended sentences.