Fleeing the North Caucasus: women, LGBTQ+, pressure from family or security forces

Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise

Fleeing the North Caucasus

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

A typical scheme: relatives report a 'theft' or 'disappearance', and police elsewhere detain the woman and hand her back. Rights groups advise recording a video saying you leave voluntarily and giving it to someone you trust.
There is no safe place inside Russia, so evacuations usually go abroad, often via Armenia. Use a new SIM card and new accounts, and no geotags. Leave family accounts (Google, Apple ID) and turn off 'Find My' and location sharing: people are found through these more often than through their SIM card.
NC SOS was designated 'extremist' in Russia in 2026, but the group says asking it for help does not count as taking part in its activities.
Where to turn: NC SOS (@sksos_helpbot) for LGBTQ+ people and women; Marem (@MaremGroup_bot) for women fleeing violence.

Designations of organisations in this guide: North Caucasus SOS Crisis Group (foreign agent, extremist). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.

current as of September 25. More: Meduza: NC SOS designated 'extremist' (undesirable); Novaya Gazeta Europe: the case of Seda Suleimanova (undesirable)

Who helps

3 organisations

Marem

Helps women from Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia and North Ossetia fleeing domestic violence: evacuation, temporary housing, free lawyers and psychologists.

Founder Svetlana Anokhina was sentenced in absentia to 5 years in January 2026 under the army 'fakes' law. We could not confirm the group's own status in Russia.

If Telegram doesn't open: Telegram channel

abroad

Message the bot @MaremGroup_bot

Sphere

Legal, psychological and emergency help for LGBTQ+ people from Russia.

The 'LGBT movement' is designated 'extremist' in Russia. Contact Sphere from a device that is not checked.

If Telegram doesn't open: website

in Russia and abroad foreign agent"LGBT movement" designated extremist link checked September 25

Message the bot @spherehelpbot

North Caucasus SOS Crisis Group

Evacuates LGBTQ+ people, their loved ones and women threatened by their families from Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan; shelter, doctors, psychologists, lawyers.

Designated 'extremist' in Russia in summer 2026. The group says asking it for help does not count as taking part in its activities. It no longer has staff or volunteers inside Russia.

If Telegram doesn't open: sksos.org

North Caucasus and abroad foreign agentextremist

Message the bot @sksos_helpbot

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