Seda Suleymanova’s Whereabouts Still Unknown
Seda Suleymanova had to resist attempts by her family to force her into marriage in Chechnya, as had happened with her sisters, who were married off between the ages of 15 and 18. When she refused an arranged marriage, tensions escalated: her mother began checking her phone, searching her belongings, and forbidding her from going out after work. The pressure became unbearable, and Seda fled. With support from SK SOS, she relocated to Saint Petersburg and began a new life.
Later, her brother attempted to track her down by showing up at her workplace, demanding her return. Seda managed to escape again, changing her job, residence, and phone number.
In August 2023, police officers from Saint Petersburg, accompanied by plainclothes Chechen security officials, came to the apartment where Seda lived with her partner. She was taken to the police station under the pretense of being a theft suspect and allegedly needed to be returned to Chechnya. No official documents were presented. It was later revealed that the criminal case was fabricated as a pretext to abduct her. Seda was taken to Grozny and questioned as a witness in a wallet theft case—despite being in Saint Petersburg at the time of the alleged incident. After the interrogation, she was handed over to her family, denied contact with a lawyer, and coerced into signing a refusal of legal defense—violating her rights.
Following public outcry, the Chechen Human Rights Commissioner posted a photo of Seda, in conservative clothing and looking exhausted, claiming she was "fine." A later video showed her looking detached and emotionless. In early February 2024, two independent sources in Chechnya reported that Seda may have been the victim of an "honor killing." On February 6, journalists tried to reach her through her relatives, who refused to hand over the phone and claimed she had left home on February 5 and had not returned. The family did not report her missing to law enforcement.
In response, the SK SOS crisis team launched a campaign allowing the public to send official inquiries to the Prosecutor General’s Office and other authorities. Over 2,000 statements were submitted. Members of the Human Rights Council and deputies joined the campaign. On March 25, 2024, the Chechen Investigative Committee opened a criminal case into Seda’s disappearance, classifying it as a suspected murder.
Her fate remains unknown to this day.
Later, her brother attempted to track her down by showing up at her workplace, demanding her return. Seda managed to escape again, changing her job, residence, and phone number.
In August 2023, police officers from Saint Petersburg, accompanied by plainclothes Chechen security officials, came to the apartment where Seda lived with her partner. She was taken to the police station under the pretense of being a theft suspect and allegedly needed to be returned to Chechnya. No official documents were presented. It was later revealed that the criminal case was fabricated as a pretext to abduct her. Seda was taken to Grozny and questioned as a witness in a wallet theft case—despite being in Saint Petersburg at the time of the alleged incident. After the interrogation, she was handed over to her family, denied contact with a lawyer, and coerced into signing a refusal of legal defense—violating her rights.
Following public outcry, the Chechen Human Rights Commissioner posted a photo of Seda, in conservative clothing and looking exhausted, claiming she was "fine." A later video showed her looking detached and emotionless. In early February 2024, two independent sources in Chechnya reported that Seda may have been the victim of an "honor killing." On February 6, journalists tried to reach her through her relatives, who refused to hand over the phone and claimed she had left home on February 5 and had not returned. The family did not report her missing to law enforcement.
In response, the SK SOS crisis team launched a campaign allowing the public to send official inquiries to the Prosecutor General’s Office and other authorities. Over 2,000 statements were submitted. Members of the Human Rights Council and deputies joined the campaign. On March 25, 2024, the Chechen Investigative Committee opened a criminal case into Seda’s disappearance, classifying it as a suspected murder.
Her fate remains unknown to this day.