Teen Who Reported Family Abuse Goes Missing in Ingushetia Amid Death Threats, Rights Group Reveals

A 16-year-old boy who reported family abuse and threats to his life has gone missing in Ingushetia, a republic in the North Caucasus, according to the rights organization SK SOS on Wednesday.

The boy, named Islam Musiyev, alleged that he faced repeated physical violence, constant monitoring, removal from school, and death threats from his relatives, as reported by the group.

Musiyev had shared images illustrating his injuries and identified three male family members who he claimed had threatened his life, SK SOS stated.

While the organization did not delve into the reasons behind the mistreatment, SK SOS is recognized for assisting LGBTQ+ individuals in escaping the traditionally conservative environment of Russia’s North Caucasus region.

Additionally, SK SOS indicated that «Islam Musiyev» was not the individual’s birth name; he was previously known as Zelimkhan Temirkhanov and the change occurred on an unspecified date for reasons that remain unclear. The three family members accused of making threats all carry the surname Musiyev, the organization noted.

Musiyev had sought assistance from SK SOS to leave Ingushetia, but the group explained that they couldn’t provide help due to concerns that aiding minors might lead to criminal consequences for their staff and volunteers.

Another human rights organization succeeded in enlisting child protection services, leading to a social worker visiting the Musiyev household. According to SK SOS, Musiyev maintained communication with activists for about a week following the visit before he vanished.

The organization reported that the child protection officer later denied visiting the home and ceased all contact with the activists.

“Just before he disappeared, he expressed concerns for his safety and requested that supporters make his situation public and file a report if he lost communication for more than two days,” SK SOS shared on Telegram.

Russian human rights organizations have consistently raised concerns over domestic violence in the North Caucasus republics of Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.