Baymuradova, a 23-year-old Chechen woman who fled to Armenia to escape domestic violence, was found dead in a rented apartment in central Yerevan on Oct. 19. Photo: Chebykin Will Explain («Чебыкин объяснит») / Telegram
Aishat Baymuradova, a 23-year-old Chechen woman who fled to Armenia to escape domestic abuse and was later killed in Yerevan, was related to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, according to a Dec. 8 report by the independent Russian outlet TV Rain. Svetlana Anokhina, head of the human rights group Marem, told the outlet that Baymuradova’s grandmother was a cousin of Kadyrov’s father, Akhmat Kadyrov.
Baymuradova had faced abuse since childhood, including sexual violence, according to a friend quoted in the report. He said she had been raped by her father and grandfather. At 17, she was married off to shooting instructor Alsolt Teliev, who was involved in training Kadyrov’s troops. Teliev also abused her, attempting to force her into submission and allegedly drugging her food, the friend said. During that period, she experienced hallucinations.
Rights activists told Dozhd that Baymuradova’s escape from Chechnya had been planned for a year. When she arrived in Armenia, no one appeared to be searching for her, they said — only her husband threatened to starve their child, who remains in Chechnya. Baymuradova maintained open social media accounts, posting photos along with geotags of her location and criticism of Chechen authorities.
Baymuradova had attempted to apply for a humanitarian visa to Germany, but her case was deemed too weak. Her body was discovered a few days after the murder in an apartment in central Yerevan. Witnesses said the apartment was “covered in blood” and that there were signs Baymuradova had tried to escape. Her body was found near the door, and her shirt was “pulled up.” A source close to the investigation told TV Rain that she had been poisoned, while a friend of the victim said that on the day of the killing he received a voice message from Baymuradova’s phone in which a man issued threats.
It later emerged that, before her death, Baymuradova was headed to meet Karina Iminova, whose social media followers include individuals linked to the entourage of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Iminova flew to Yerevan on Oct. 14, and Baymuradova was reported missing three days later, on Oct. 17. Local police said her body was found on Oct. 19.
According to the rights group NC SOS (North Caucasus SOS), Iminova is a key witness in the case. After Baymuradova’s disappearance, Iminova stopped responding to messages and, according to activists, has since left Armenia.
Two unnamed people are currently under investigation in connection with the killing. Notably, security-camera footage captured close to the scene of the crime reportedly showed Iminova and Chechen native Said-Khamzat Baysarov. TV Rain reported that Baysarov is a nephew of businessman Ruslan Baysarov, a figure often described as Kadyrov’s “wallet” due to his role as a financial proxy holding money and assets on the Chechen leader’s behalf.
Armenia’s Investigative Committee and the office of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not respond to journalists’ questions about the status of the investigation.