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).
In the Cherkessk court, the state prosecution requested five years in a general regime colony for Jehovah's Witness with a disability, Elena Menchikova. She is accused of participating in an extremist organization.
According to investigators, Menchikova’s actions undermine security and threaten the integrity of the state. She participated in meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses and kept relevant literature.
In court, the believer did not deny that she professed the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, calling it her constitutional right. However, she noted that she has nothing to do with politics and has never undermined Russian statehood.
In 2020, a criminal case was opened against the woman for participation in the activities of an extremist organization (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). According to investigators, the believer “sang songs” and “prayed to Jehovah God.”