A 19-year-old from the North Caucasus region of Chechnya has fled Russia after leaving home to escape domestic violence, Aleksandr Ionov, a member of Russia's Public Monitoring Commission and Human Rights Council, said on May 17. The Marem human rights group said Lia Zaurbekova left Chechnya for Moscow on May 13, fearing for her life after she was physically and psychologically abused at home. Her family tracked her down in Moscow and tried to forcibly take her back to Chechnya but was unable to do so after Zaurbekova called the police and a lawyer. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Caucasus.Realities, click here.
