Wikipedia

North Caucasus SOS

North Caucasus SOS Crisis Group (abbr. NC SOS, Russian: Кризисная группа СК SOS, romanized: Krizisnaya gruppa SK SOS) is a Russian organization that helps LGBTQ+ people and their families who are facing mortal danger in the North Caucasus, Russia. As of 2025, NC SOS and its predecessor have reported assisting 925 people.[1]

North Caucasus SOS
Северный Кавказ SOS
AbbreviationNC SOS
FounderDavid Isteev
TypeNonprofit
Websitehttps://ncsos.io

History

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The organization North Caucasus SOS was formally founded in October 2021 by human rights defenders and activists of the Russian LGBT Network who have been helping LGBT people in the North Caucasus since 2017, when mass persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya became known. David Isteev, who previously headed the emergency assistance department of the Russian LGBT Network, became the director of NC SOS.[2][3]

Initially, NC SOS worked as part of the charitable foundation "Sphere" (Russian: "Сфера"), until its liquidation by the Russian Ministry of Justice in April 2022.[4]

In May 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice added NC SOS to the register of "foreign agents".[3] Formally, designation was linked to the case of Idris Arsamikov (Russian: Идрис Арсамиков).[4]

In April 2024, Roskomnadzor blocked access to the NC SOS website in Russia. Human rights activists suggest that this could be due to the new law prohibiting "LGBT propaganda", which allowed blocking of LGBT-related content without a court order.[5]

Activity

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The organization helps LGBT people to leave regions where they have faced discrimination, violence and mortal danger. NC SOS also facilitates migration, provides safe housing, offers legal, financial, medical, and psychological support.[6] The organization primarily works with applicants from Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Dagestan.[4]

NC SOS cooperates with the volunteer group "Marem" (Russian: "Марем"), which helps women who have been victims of domestic violence in the North Caucasus,[4] the LGBT emergency assistance group "Aegis" (Russian: "Эгида"), and other human rights organizations.

NC SOS, and predecessor Russian LGBT Network, have assisted in numerous high-profile cases since 2017.

2017

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In 2017, Maxim Lapunov spoke for the first time about the torture in a secret prison for gays in Grozny; he spent about two weeks in one of them.[7][3]

2020

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In 2020, Aminat Lorsanova was subjected to conversion therapy by her family in Chechnya, was held in a psychiatric hospital, was tortured and "treated" by reading the Quran. She escaped with the support of NC SOS.[8][3][9]

2022

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In 2022, Siblings Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isaev were abducted by Chechen security forces from a crisis apartment of NC SOS in Nizhny Novgorod due to their homosexuality and opposition views, subjected to beatings and torture. They were sentenced to 8 and 6 years in prison in an unsubstantiated criminal case.[10][3]

In 2022, Sisters Khadizhat and Patimat Khizriev, Aminat Gazimagomedova and Patimat Magomedova escaped from domestic violence from Dagestan to Georgia with help of NC SOS. During сrossing of the border checkpoint Verkhny Lars, Russian border guards held them for more than 11 hours.[11][3]

2023

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Elina Ukhmanova was forcibly detained in Makhachkala, subjected to conversion therapy in an attempt to "cure" her of bisexuality and atheism, left Dagestan with help of NC SOS.[12][3][13]

Idris Arsamikov was tortured in Chechnya because of his homosexuality. With help of NC SOS, he left Russia and received international protection in the Netherlands. However, he returned for his father's funeral, was detained at Moscow Domodedovo Airport and handed over to Chechen security forces.[14][3]

2024

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Seda Suleymanova [ru] fled from relatives in Chechnya with support of NC SOS because she refused to marry. But a year later she was detained by Chechen security forces in Saint Petersburg with assistance of the local police, and sent to Chechnya.[15] Where, according to sources in the republic, she became the victim of "honor killing." The Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal investigation into Suleimanova's "disappearance without a trace," but the results of the investigation were not provided.[16][17][18]

Liya Zaurbekova escaped from domestic violence from Chechnya to Moscow. Her relatives reported her missing and attempted to kidnap from the Nagatino-Sadovniki police department. With support of the Marem group and assistance of NC SOS, she was able to leave Russia.[19]

NC SOS provides help to people who were assisted in leaving the region and those who were granted asylum.[2][20][21]
[22]

In September 2024, NC SOS published a report claiming that Security forces in Chechnya are forcing detained homosexual men to Ukraine by blackmailing them into volunteering for the frontlines. They cited seven incidents of this, beginning prior to Sep 2022 mobilizations. Men were detained for being homosexual, and then given the choice of paying a ransom or volunteering for the war in Ukraine.[23] The Akhmat unit was using the mobilized queer men as sex slaves, according to David Isteev.[24]

2025

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On Nov 9, 2025 Aliya Ozdamirova, the daughter of a former Chechen deputy sports minister the day after returning to Chechnya. She had sent a message to NC SOS prior to her return stating "My life is in danger. If something happens to me, I want people to know what happened." Her family and North Caucasus officials stated that she died of natural causes, but NC SOS claims it was an honor killing.[25]

Awards

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In 2024, NC SOS was awarded the Rainbow Prize, worth 100,000 SEK, presented by Princess Christina of Sweden at the Rainbow Gala in Stockholm. David Isteev and project manager Lucy Shtein accepted the award on behalf of the organisation.[26]

References

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  1. ↑ "North Caucasus SOS Crisis Group yearly report 2025" (PDF). Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  2. 1 2 "NC SOS Crisis group yearly report 2022" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Андрей Красно (12 May 2023). "Сотни спасенных жизней: "СК SOS" продолжат помогать ЛГБТК-людям с Северного Кавказа" [Hundreds of lives saved: NC SOS will continue to help LGBTQ people from the North Caucasus]. Кавказ.Реалии (in Russian). Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Елена Долженко (10 November 2023). "«Слишком быстрое отслеживание»: как на Северном Кавказе помогают ЛГБТК-людям и жертвам насилия" ["Tracking is too fast": how LGBTQ people and victims of violence are being helped in the North Caucasus]. Крым.Реалии (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "В России заблокировали сайт работающей на Северном Кавказе кризисной группы «СК SOS»" [The website of NC SOS Crisis Group operating in the North Caucasus has been blocked in Russia]. Mediazona (in Russian). 2024-04-03. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  6. ↑ ""Every year it gets worse": Protecting LGBTIQ+ people in the North Caucasus". Human Rights House Foundation. 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  7. ↑ "Maxim Lapunov". Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Aminat Lorsanova". Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Сотрясти систему. История чеченки Аминат Лорсановой, сбежавшей от родственников" [Shake up the system. The story of Chechen woman Aminat Lorsanova, who ran away from her relatives]. Sotaproject [ru] (in Russian). 6 May 2024. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Salekh and Ismail". Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "Four sisters". Archived from the original on 22 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "Elina Ukhmanova". Archived from the original on 22 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Правозащитники заявили об угрозе безопасности Элины Ухмановой" [Human rights defenders have declared a threat to the safety of Elina Ukhmanova]. Caucasian Knot (in Russian). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Idris Arsamikov". Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Prisoner of the Caucasus". Novaya Gazeta Europe. 2024-02-14. Archived from the original on 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  16. ↑ ""She Knew They Would Start Looking for Her." A Friend of a Missing Chechen Seda Suleimanova on Friendship, 'Honor Killings', and Runaway Women from the North Caucasus". 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  17. ↑ "«Факты подсказывают, что она убита». История исчезновения Седы Сулеймановой" ["Facts suggest that she was murdered." The story of Seda Suleimanova's disappearance]. BBC News (in Russian). 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "Похищенную чеченку Седу Сулейманову объявили в розыск как без вести пропавшую" [Kidnapped Chechen woman Seda Suleimanova has been declared missing.]. Mediazona (in Russian). 16 June 2025. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  19. ↑ Parfitt, Tom (2024-06-10). "'I did not want to disappear in silence': Chechen woman livestreamed attempted abduction by her family". The Guardian. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  20. ↑ "NC SOS Crisis group yearly report 2023" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-04-29. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  21. ↑ ""СК SOS": большая часть заявлений о помощи от ЛГБТК+ людей поступило из Дагестана" ["NC SOS": Most requests for help from LGBTQ+ people came from Dagestan]. Кавказ.Реалии (in Russian). 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "North Caucasus SOS Crisis Group yearly report 2024" (PDF). Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  23. ↑ "Chechen opposition activists call for suspension of anti-discrimination platform member after comments on honor killings and LGBTQ+ rights". The Insider. 2024-03-08. Archived from the original on 2026-06-03. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  24. ↑ Chukharova, Elizaveta (2025-01-29). "Human rights organisation accuses Chechen Akhmat fighters of using mobilised queer men as sex slaves". OC Media. Archived from the original on 2026-06-03. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  25. ↑ "These Women Fled Abuse in Russia's North Caucasus. Then They Were Found Dead". The Moscow Times. 2025-12-22. Archived from the original on 2026-06-03. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  26. ↑ "David och Lucy tog emot Regnbågspriset ur prinsessan Christinas hand". QX (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-06-03.
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