Border guards prevent group of Dagestani girls from leaving Russia

Border guards refused to let four girls from Dagestan who escaped from domestic violence through; they are holding them at the checkpoint until their relatives arrive, human rights defenders have informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that domestic violence is not uncommon in the Caucasus, but not everyone is ready to talk about it. Rights defenders believe that breaking ties with the family and running away from home is often the only way for girls to save their lives.

At the "Verkhniy Lars" checkpoint, Russian border guards would not allow four sisters from Dagestan to cross the border, Svetlana Anokhina, a journalist, has reported.

"All the girls are adults, as far as we know; they are not wanted, but they ask them if they have permission from their relatives to leave the country. Meanwhile, relatives are already on their way, they were told," Ms Anokhina has added.

Two sisters, aged 20 and 18, and their second cousins, aged 24 and 19, were heading to Georgia via the "Verkhniy Lars" land checkpoint, the SK SOS Crisis Group has informed. "In response to the questions about the reasons for their long wait, the checkpoint staff asked the girls if their parents had given permits to travel (despite the fact that all the sisters had reached the majority age), and said that relatives were coming for them," the Group's Telegram channel informs.