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 3.5 year sentence for Nikita Zhuravel will be appealed to a higher authority. This was stated by lawyer Yulia Antonova. She considers the decision of the Visaitovsky District Court of Grozny incorrect, since the actions of the defendant, found guilty of burning the Koran, cannot be classified as a set of crimes.
At today's court hearing, Zhuravel again apologized to all Muslims for offending their religious feelings.
Let us remind you that a court in Grozny sentenced Nikita Zhuravel, a 19-year-old student from Volgograd, to three and a half years in a general regime colony. He was found guilty of burning the Koran. This happened in May 2023 in Volgograd near the cathedral mosque. In Grozny he was tried for publicly insulting the feelings of believers and hooliganism. The young man admitted his guilt and apologized.