Aishat Baimuradova, a 23-year-old woman from Chechnya, was discovered deceased in a rented apartment in Armenia in October. Armenian police have initiated a murder investigation into her death.
Baimuradova had reportedly fled Chechnya, described as a conservative Muslim republic within Russia, in late 2023. She had adopted lifestyle changes, including altering her hairstyle and not covering her head, and had expressed a desire for a different life.
Background on Chechnya
Chechnya, located in Russia's North Caucasus, is characterized by human rights organizations as a region where power is highly centralized under leader Ramzan Kadyrov. These organizations have documented allegations of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Chechen officials have consistently denied these accusations.
Previous incidents include the deaths of Chechen critics abroad, such as Umar Israilov in Vienna (2009) and Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin (2019). Baimuradova's case marks the first known suspicious death of a Chechen woman who had fled the region.
Personal Circumstances and Flight
Baimuradova had reportedly expressed concerns about familial control, a forced marriage, and restrictions on her movement and communication in Chechnya. She received assistance from SK-SOS, a crisis organization that supports individuals facing danger in the North Caucasus.
Her family reportedly disowned her after she declined to return to Chechnya. An uncle of Baimuradova has denied any family involvement in her death.
Investigation Details
CCTV footage captured two individuals departing the building where Baimuradova's body was found; both reportedly subsequently traveled to Russia. One individual was a woman Baimuradova had recently met online, who reportedly claimed to be from Dagestan. The other individual, a man, was identified by a Russian Telegram channel as being of Chechen origin and a reported relative of a businessman with ties to Ramzan Kadyrov.
Chechen authorities have denied any connection to Baimuradova's death, referring to such suggestions as a "terrorist information attack." Officials have also criticized groups that assist women fleeing the region, accusing them of "destroying family traditions."
Baimuradova reportedly sought social connections and maintained a public profile in Armenia, a contrast to many who flee the region and typically maintain anonymity.