Human rights activists called Mankieva's release from police custody a temporary victory.

Security officials have released Aina Mankieva, a native of Ingushetia who reported domestic violence and was being held at a Moscow police station. This is thanks to activists and the media, who brought attention to the issue. However, she remains a suspect in the criminal case and remains wanted.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Aina Mankieva from Ingushetia was detained by police in Moscow. Security officials refused to allow Aina's lawyer to see her, human rights activists reported on the night of January 15. Mankieva remains in police custody; in addition to Interior Ministry officers, she was questioned by representatives of the Center for Combating Extremism. Human rights activists have called the risk high that a girl who fled domestic violence will be placed in a temporary detention facility and then sent to Ingushetia. Manyeva filed a complaint alleging domestic violence, including sexual violence. She asked not to hand her over to her relatives and to be provided with state protection. She called her relatives' theft report false.

Aina Mankieva left the Sviblovo police station in Moscow with her lawyer, the Telegram channel "Ostorozhno, Novosti" reported.

Detained Aina Mankieva was released from the police station and was not handed over to Ingush police. "The girl was able to leave the station and is now relatively safe," the SOS* Crisis Group reported today.

Nevertheless, the risk of re-arrest remains. "The main problem remains unresolved: Aina is still wanted in a criminal case. She faces a lengthy legal battle, and she could be detained again at any moment. She was released solely thanks to the enormous publicity, the work of journalists and lawyers, and the response of people who called the department yesterday. But much work remains to be done on this case," the human rights activists noted.

"We thank everyone who monitored the department, posted messages, and called the department!! This is all thanks to your help—the publicity and media involvement. Unfortunately, this does not mean Aina is free from persecution. A criminal case against her remains open," the Marem human rights group noted.

12:02 31.12.2025

Batal-haji Belkhoroev and his followers

Batal-haji Belkhoroev is an Ingush sheikh, the founder of one of the Kadirite branches (virds), a follower of the sheikh Kunta-Khadji. Members of the Batal-Khadji brotherhood—the Belkhoroevtsy or Batalkhadzhintsy—have considerable influence in modern-day Ingushetia. In December 2022, the Batalkhadzhintsy formed a rapid response unit (BOBR) in Chechnya, composed of natives of Ingushetia, to participate in the military operation in Ukraine. On February 27, 2023, it was announced that the militant wing of the Ingush Batalkhadzhintsy vird had been included on the list of terrorist organizations.

As a reminder, Manyeva said that her family belonged to the Batalkhadzhintsy vird and expressed fears that the entire vird would search for her. "Vird practices strict control over children, early marriage for girls (from 13), and rarely allows girls to complete education even up to ninth grade," Marem quoted her as saying on January 15. The problem of domestic violence in Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Chechnya affects women of all ages, but it is primarily young women under 30 who try to escape it, human rights activists from the Ad Rem team noted in their report. The problem of evacuating victims of domestic violence is most acute in these regions, as authorities and security forces there side with domestic abusers. In June 2023, the BBC released the documentary "When I Escaped" about girls from the North Caucasus who managed to escape from the control of their families. For victims of domestic violence, escape often becomes the only option to save their lives, human rights activists emphasized.

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