Maria Smelaya, who accused her Chechen husband of beating her, claims that custody trial is delayed

A court in Krasnodar has postponed by 2.5 months the hearing on the custody case over Maria Smelaya's child, during which time she intends to achieve meeting with her son in Grozny.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that law enforcers had released Maria Smelaya's husband, a native of Chechnya, after detaining him in Krasnodar; the child was not with him. The man is suspected of arbitrary actions with the use of violence. Earlier, the police refused to accept an application about the kidnapping of the child by her husband, a native of Chechnya Sh., but the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) became interested in the case. Maria complained about the beating by her husband and the son’s kidnapping.

She has stated in a video posted in the Telegram channel "Kavkaz bez materi" (Caucasus without Mother) that her husband registered the child with his relatives in Grozny, but took no part in his upbringing.

In early February, she intends to go to Grozny and demand to see her son; she also plans to contact the guardianship authorities in Grozny. "Since our services are inactive, the courts too, I’ll have to act differently," Maria Smelaya has stated.

Let us remind you that on June 4, 2024, it turned out that Maria's husband had another wife. She had also complained to rights defenders claiming that he was beating her and their children up.