Murder in Nazran recalls problem of "honour killings" in Northern Caucasus

Despite the extremely negative perception in the society, "honour killings" continue in the republics of Northern Caucasus, including Ingushetia, and authorities and elders would not take an active part in the fight against them, Saida Sirazhudinova and Aida Mirmaksumova, human rights defenders, have noted. The circumstances under which the woman's body was found in the Ingush city of Nazran indicate that she is most likely a victim of such a killing, they believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported referring to sources that the body was beheaded and without hands; therefore, human rights defenders do not rule out that she had fallen victim to domestic violence or honour killing.

Residents of Nazran have reacted to the call posted in the Telegram channel "Rozysk Ingushetia" to provide law enforcers with information about missing girls, even if their relatives claim that they "had left and wouldn't communicate with anyone."

"People make assumptions, and policemen check facts. Someone writes to us; others report to the on duty service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)," the channel administrator has explained.

"The very method of the above murder, the place and attempts to depersonalize the casualty suggest that this is again an "honour killing," said Saida Sirazhudinova, the president of the Centre for Studying Modern Global Issues and Regional Problems "Caucasus. World. Development".

According to her story, it is impossible to keep statistics on "honour killings". "After the publication of the report, there was a resonant murder of Liza Mogushkova by her brother. Several more similar cases became known," she has added.

Unfortunately, some people support honour killings, Ms Sirazhudinova has noted. There is no proper reaction by authorities, clergymen and elders, she has emphasized.

The above woman was killed in such a way that it was difficult to identify her, Aida Mirmaksumova, the head of the "Fathers and Daughters" project.