Georgian police temporarily detained a 24-year-old Chechen woman who had escaped domestic violence in Chechnya, according to human rights activists.
Laura Avtorkhanova had taken refuge in a shelter in Tbilisi after fleeing what activists described as an abusive and oppressive environment. The rights organization Marem, which advocates for women in the North Caucasus, reported that Avtorkhanova communicated with her family through a note, indicating that she was leaving of her own accord and requesting that they not search for her.
Nevertheless, her relatives reported her as missing to the Georgian police, which led her to seek a protective order. Marem stated that the police assured Avtorkhanova they would inform her if any family members arrived in Georgia.
On Sunday, Marem reported that Avtorkhanova was “abducted” near the shelter in Tbilisi by her sister and five other individuals, who were described only as Chechens. An employee of the shelter who attempted to help her was reportedly attacked.
This group of six allegedly tried to pressure Avtorkhanova into claiming to the police that she planned to return to Russia voluntarily.
After the attempted abduction, Georgian authorities detained Avtorkhanova and took her to a local police station for questioning. She spent the night there under the company of her lawyer and was able to speak with her parents, who reportedly assured her that she would not be forcibly sent back to Chechnya.
The exiled Russian outlet TV Rain shared videos showing Avtorkhanova’s supporters outside the police station. In one clip, she is seen making an “OK” sign from a balcony.
On Monday morning, Marem announced that Avtorkhanova had been released and was en route to a “safe place” whose location is kept confidential. The organization indicated that the Georgian police intend to look into how her relatives managed to get close to her despite the protective order.
“We are thankful to the Georgian police for their readiness to investigate this matter and for not handing [Avtorkhanova] over to her relatives,” Marem stated. “We also express our gratitude to Laura’s lawyer, who came at night, and to everyone who offered their support.”
Human rights organizations have consistently voiced their concerns regarding domestic violence and coercion faced by women in the conservative North Caucasus republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Dagestan.
