In Moscow, journalists and activists have been detained outside a police station where a young woman who had escaped domestic violence is being held.

Near the Sviblovo police station, where Aina Mankieva, who fled Ingushetia, is being held, journalists from SOTAvision, the publication ‘Ostorozhno Media,’ and other media outlets were detained. This was reported by SOTAvision and Ksenia Sobchak’s Telegram channel ‘Krovavaya Barynya’.

Mankieva’s friend was also detained there. SOTA writes that activists who came to the police station to support the young woman were also detained.

According to the police, they received a report that “a group of citizens with unknown intentions” had gathered outside the police station.

It became known last night about the detention in Moscow of 21-year-old Aina Mankieva. According to the human rights group ‘Marem,’ in April she ran away from her home in Ingushetia, where, for years, she had suffered violence from relatives. She is now being held following a complaint from her mother, who accused her daughter of theft—a criminal case was initiated in August. According to ‘Marem,’ Moscow police are preparing to hand the young woman over to law enforcement officers from Ingushetia.

Mankieva submitted a counter-complaint, demanding that a case be opened against her relatives. She told police she had been raped multiple times, and that her life had been placed in danger and she had been unlawfully deprived of her liberty. She also accused her mother of filing a knowingly false report and requested state protection.

“Since childhood, [Mankieva] was subjected to violence. After repeated humiliation, beatings and exploitation by relatives, Aina became seriously ill and did not leave home for eight months. After some incidents of violence, she could easily not have survived,” ‘Marem’ reported.

Previously, relatives had filed missing persons reports for Mankieva, but she was removed from the list. After fleeing, she recorded a video appeal where she said she left home voluntarily, and asked not to be searched for.

The SK SOS Crisis Group reminds us that the same scheme was used with Seda Suleimanova, who fled Chechnya escaping her family. She too was accused of theft and forcibly returned to the republic, after which she was allegedly killed by relatives.

14:58 Police have released the journalists and Aina Mankieva’s friend who were detained at the Sviblovo police station, reports SOTAvision.

They were questioned and fingerprinted. Journalists’ press cards were checked. Police asked them to keep their distance from the station.

The detainees did not see Mankieva in the police station.

16:22 Mankieva herself has now also been released, reports ‘Ostorozhno Media.’ According to the publication, she left the police station with her lawyer and is now in a safe place.

The SK SOS Crisis Group noted that the young woman is still wanted in connection with the criminal case and could be detained again at any moment.