The Investigative Committee of Armenia is exploring the theory that there may have been multiple masterminds behind the murder of Aishat Baimuradova, a native of Chechnya who had fled domestic violence. The agency disclosed this in response to an inquiry from the outlet "Vot Tak," which also reported that the Russian side has, for the second time, failed to respond to a request from Armenian investigators for assistance with the case.

In February 2026, the Investigative Committee of Armenia stated that the two alleged perpetrators may have acted under the direction of an "as-yet-unidentified individual." The agency is now considering the possibility that there were multiple masterminds, though it has not disclosed their names or the evidence pointing to the potential involvement of several people. There is still no publicly confirmed information regarding who might have orchestrated the murder.

Forensic experts determined that Baimuradova died from strangulation. Her body was discovered on October 19, 2025, in an apartment in Yerevan, following a meeting with Karina Iminova—a woman Baimuradova had met shortly before her death. On November 3, reports emerged that surveillance footage had been used to identify two individuals leaving the apartment: Iminova and Said-Khamzat Baisarov. At the time, the crisis group "SK SOS" noted that the police had not disclosed the identities of these individuals, nor had they officially designated them as murder suspects or placed them on a wanted list. Both individuals left Armenia that same day.

On November 11, the Investigative Committee of Armenia announced that it had initiated criminal proceedings against two individuals for murder, ordered their detention, and placed them on a wanted list. In December, the Armenian side sent a notification to Interpol and a request for assistance to Russia, but by February 2026, no response had been received. In April, both individuals appeared in the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted database.

Iminova is also listed as a missing person. Baisarov was previously involved in a case concerning the financing of terrorism, though the charges against him were later dropped. He is the nephew of Ruslan Baisarov, a businessman and long-time acquaintance of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

SK SOS and the group "Marem"—which organized Baimuradova’s evacuation from Chechnya—reported, citing her, that she had been subjected to domestic violence, which was the reason she sought help. In Armenia, she found a job and began living a public life.

Following the discovery of her body, complications arose regarding its release; under Armenian law, a burial can only take place with the participation of relatives. Although law enforcement authorities reached out to the Russian side with a request to notify her family, no one from her inner circle came to collect the body. Ultimately, the funeral took place in Yerevan only in March 2026—five months after her death.

Mark Yakovlev, a 19-year-old LGBT activist from Dagestan who was a friend of Baimuradova, told *Novaya Gazeta Europe* that on October 15, 2025, he received a threatening voice message sent from her phone. He suspects that the message may have been sent by the individuals responsible for her murder. Yakovlev does not know who exactly recorded the message.