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 Visaitovsky District Court of Grozny, five imams appeared as victims in the case against Nikita Zhuravel, accused of burning the Koran at a mosque in Volgograd. Those interrogated stated that Nikita Zhuravel’s actions offended the feelings of all Muslims and caused them moral harm.
“The Koran is the source of Islamic law, the most sacred book. Her burning is blasphemy, it hurt the Muslim community and caused outrage. The Koran calls for peace regardless of religion. Calls for unity and good,” said Anvar Magadaev, imam of the mosque in the village of Beryozka in the Visaitovsky district.
The defendant once again apologized to all Muslims. Nikita Zhuravel is accused of insulting the feelings of believers and hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. According to investigators, in May he burned the Koran near the building of the Cathedral Mosque in Volgograd, allegedly acting on instructions from the Ukrainian special services.
In August, Nikita Zhuravel stated that he was beaten by Ramzan Kadyrov’s 15-year-old son Adam in a pre-trial detention center in Grozny. A month later, the head of Chechnya published a video of the beating. Two weeks later, Kadyrov Sr. announced that his son was awarded the title “Hero of the Chechen Republic.” Then the teenager received many orders and titles.