Murder of North-Ossetian woman highlights authorities' indifference to domestic violence

The former husband of Regina Gagieva, accused of her murder, twice escaped from house arrest, but was not detained. After they got married, Regina Gagieva kept in secret that her husband beat her, her relatives said. In North Ossetia, victims of domestic violence are supported only by activists amid the authorities' inattention to the problem.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 18, Regina Gagieva, a 22-year-old resident of Vladikavkaz, was injured with a knife and died in hospital on September 25. According to investigators, her former husband inflicted fatal wounds to her out of jealousy.

According to a sister of Regina Gagieva, the husband often beat Regina, when they were married, but the law enforcement bodies did not respond to her complaints.

Zema, a mother of Regina Gagieva, said that her daughter got tired of being beaten and intimidated and decided to divorce her husband. Meanwhile, the man let Regina to visit their child and take him to her place for a while. According to the woman, her daughter was afraid of her former husband even after their divorce.

Libkan Bazaeva, the director of the NCO "Women for Development", believes the murder of Regina Gagieva is not typical for the Caucasus.

"I am categorically opposing the cases when such incidents are associated with the Caucasian mentality. Yes, our domestic relations are built on a patriarchal basis, and sometimes women are restricted in their freedom of action. However, a murder or cruel treatment of women is not typical for the Caucasus," Libkan Bazaeva noted.