Russia arrests Seda Suleymanova's acquaintance during a single-person protest, repeating the pattern

In the Caucasus region, where independent voices are under threat, a reader-powered newsroom is responding to the rise of authoritarianism, particularly in Georgia. This newsroom has been at the forefront of reporting on a grim issue – the disappearance of journalist Seda Suleymanova.

Suleymanova, a journalist and activist, fled her family in 2022 to avoid an arranged marriage. She sought refuge in Saint Petersburg, but in August 2023, she was reportedly forcibly returned to Chechnya by Chechen security forces. Since then, she has not made contact with her friends, human rights defenders, or journalists.

The newsroom's focus has been on Lena Patyaeva, a woman who has been detained by Russian police for holding a solo picket near the Akhmat Kadyrov Bridge in Saint Petersburg. Patyaeva's protest was in support of her friend, Seda Suleymanova, and she held a poster that read: 'Stop jailing me. Jail Seda Suleymanova's killers!' This was Patyaeva's sixth picket, as she was previously detained in Saint Petersburg in January and March of the same year without charges.

Adam Delimkhanov, a prominent figure, has been involved in several controversies surrounding these events. He was reportedly involved in the pursuit of another runaway woman, Lia Zaurbekova. Additionally, opposition activists have claimed that Delimkhanov may have been involved in the killing of Salman Tepsurkaev, a moderator of the Telegram channel 1ADAT chat who was abducted by security forces. However, the National Council for the Protection of Sensitive Data (NC SOS) could not regard the reports of Delimkhanov's involvement in Suleymanova's disappearance as reliable.

David Isteev, director of NC SOS, stated that Suleymanova was buried in her native village of Alkhan-Yurt, outside the cemetery, on the edge of the road. The information about Suleymanova's burial place came from people who could have obtained it from relatives or persons close to the family, according to Isteev.

Patyaeva has stated that she intends to seek punishment for those responsible for Suleymanova's disappearance. Despite being detained, her determination remains unwavering. The newsroom will continue to follow this story closely, advocating for justice and freedom of the press in the Caucasus region.

Russia arrests Seda Suleymanova's acquaintance during a single-person protest, repeating the pattern