Two beneficiaries of the Russian LGBT Network were detained yesterday in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Sources claim they are being moved to Chechnya

Russian LGBT Network reports that February 4, 2021, law enforcement officials detained Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isayev in their apartment in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Around 3 pm, one of the men called David Isteev, Emergency Assistance Coordinator of the Russian LGBT Network, Isteev heard screaming in the background. Attorney-at-law, Alexander Nemov, arrived at the spot 30 minutes later; he found traces of debacle on site.

According to the neighbors, a couple of hours earlier that day, they noticed people in black uniforms in the building; the neighbors stated these could be the SWAT-team members (OMON in Russian). In the next couple of hours, not a single Regional Police Precinct could confirm that Magamadov and Isayev are in their disposition. After the attorney submitted a claim to the police concerning the two men’s abduction, he found out that Magamadov and Isayev were detained by the local law enforcement officers and passed to the Chechen police. At the moment, the Chechen law enforcement is driving Magomadov and Isayev to Gudermes, Chechen Republic. 

In July 2020, the Russian LGBT Network helped Magomadov and Isayev flee the Chechen Republic to Nizhniy Novgorod. According to the statement collected by the attorney from Magomadov and Isayev, both of them were detained in April 2020 in the Special Patrol Regiment #2 named after Akhman-Khadji Kadyrov. Their detention in Spring was related to their participation as discussion moderators in the telegram-based channel Osal Nakh 95. After being detained and tortured, Magamadov and Isayev were forced to record the notorious "apologies videos’’ published online. Both young men seem to be visibly beaten and unwell. 

See a publication concerning detention of Magamadov in Caucasian Knot.