Human rights defenders: Zaira Pirova, who ran away from home, faces danger in Georgia

Georgia has ceased to be a safe country for the women who run away from the North Caucasus due to a change in the country’s political course and the accessibility of the country for Russian citizens. It is still risky for Zaira Pirova to return to Dagestan.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that Zaira Pirova left for Georgia, as she was being forced to marriage and subjected to pressure in her family. However, relatives are trying to find the girl. A Zaira’s father claims that his daughter has been kidnapped and is being kept somewhere, threatening to use violence against her family. Zaira had to leave Dagestan because of her relatives’ attempts to find her, human rights defenders objected. Zaira said that she was missing her family. On January 8, the girl’s father gave her two days to think over the situation and promised that if she returned, she would be given “special treatment.” The family should accept the Zaira’s choice and stop searching for the girl in Georgia, social media users note. Their opponents demanded that Zaira Pirova should be returned to her family.

Zaira Pirova is considering the possibility of returning home, reports Alexandra Miroshnikova, the press secretary for the “SK SOS Crisis Group”*.

“If she decides to return, we will fully support her, since this is her right and her choice,” Alexandra Miroshnikova stated.

According to her report, the organization effectively cooperates with the law enforcement bodies.

Aida Mirmaksumova, the head of the “Fathers and Daughters” project, believes that there is reason to fear for the Zaira Pirova’s safety in Georgia.

“Due to recent political events, Georgia is no longer considered a safe country for the women who escape domestic violence. Democratic institutions have stopped working there,” Aida Mirmaksumova claimed.

The human rights defender notes there are many cases when relatives search for the women who escape domestic violence, resorting to the help of local law enforcement bodies.

“They have repeatedly searched for our fugitives in Armenia and Georgia,” Aida Mirmaksumova stated.

Saida Sirazhudinova, the President of the Centre for Studying Global Issues of Modernity and Regional Problems "Caucasus. World. Development", admits that the family members can change their attitude towards the fugitive.

“Georgia had very good laws for protection from domestic violence. And the police could be more humane to women. However, since it is very easy to come to Georgia, then, of course, fugitives remain vulnerable in this country,” Saida Sirazhudinova explained.

She also recalled that there were cases when a fugitive was returned home from another country.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.