Aishat Baymurodova: Dozhd Reveals New Details

Armenian authorities have yet to clarify the circumstances of Chechen refugee Aishat Baymuradova’s death, nearly two months after her body was found in a rented Yerevan apartment, Orda.kz reports, citing Dozhd.

A source close to the investigation told Dozhd correspondent Valeria Kirsanova that officials have still not named any suspected cause of death.

According to David Isteyev, director of the crisis group SK SOS, Baymuradova’s body was discovered near the front door, with her shirt pulled up.

There was an assumption that she was trying to escape the apartment, trying to save herself. Her death was painful and prolonged. The apartment was covered in blood. So it turns out her killers sat and waited for her to die, the human rights activist said.

Dozhd also learned that Karina Iminova — the Instagram acquaintance Baymuradova met shortly before her death — is originally from Kyrgyzstan and appears in leaked databases with addresses in upscale Moscow buildings.

Many contacts list her as an escort, and she reportedly attempted to make contact with other Chechen refugee women as well.

Human rights groups fear Armenian officials may try to “bury” the case.

Baymuradova, 23, was found dead on October 20. A month later, Armenia’s Investigative Committee finally opened a criminal case, saying two unnamed individuals were suspected.

On the day she died, Iminova and Said-Khamzat Baysarov, a Chechen man previously accused in Russia of financing Islamic State*, banned in Kazakhstan, were inside the apartment.

Dozhd's investigation, published December 8, states that Baymuradova was related to Ramzan Kadyrov: according to rights group Mareem’s Svetlana Anokhina, her grandmother was a cousin of Akhmat Kadyrov.

Friends told journalists that Baymuradova had endured severe abuse since childhood — including sexual violence by her father and grandfather. At 17, she was married off to shooting instructor Alsolt Teliev, who trained Kadyrov’s troops and also abused her. 

Her child remains in Chechnya. At times, she experienced hallucinations and believed she had been drugged.

Her escape had been planned for a year. Once she reached Armenia, no one — except her husband, who threatened to starve their child — attempted to find her. She maintained open social media accounts, posted photos with geotags, and openly criticized Chechen authorities.

Iminova reportedly messaged her two months before the killing, offering help with relocation to Europe. Baymuradova had tried to obtain a humanitarian visa to Germany, but her case was deemed insufficient. Iminova flew to Yerevan on October 14; Baymuradova disappeared on October 15.

Her body was found three days later in the apartment. She appeared to have struggled toward the exit. A source close to the investigation told Dozhd she may have been poisoned.

Authorities have not released the names of the suspects. However, security cameras near the crime scene captured Iminova and Baysarov.

Dozhd reports that Baysarov is the nephew of businessman Ruslan Baysarov, widely described as “Kadyrov’s wallet.” A friend of the victim said he received an audio message with threats from a man sent from Baymuradova’s phone on the day of the homicide.

Among Iminova’s Instagram followers are individuals from Ramzan Kadyrov’s circle.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee and the office of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not respond to inquiries about the status of the investigation.

*Terrorist organization recognized as extremist in Kazakhstan: ISIS (Islamic State, by decision of the court of the Yesil district of Astana dated October 15, 2015).