A young mother of three from Chechnya is believed to have been murdered in an honour killing by her own father, who allegedly shaved her head, forced her to dig her own grave, and then shot her dead — while her husband was away fighting in Ukraine as part of Russia’s military.
Zukhra Muzayeva, 25, disappeared from the Chechen village of Kurchaloy in late April. Her friends reported her missing, prompting an investigation by Novaya Gazeta Europe, which published the allegations and called on law enforcement agencies to investigate. Three independent sources told the outlet that Zukhra had been killed by her 54-year-old father, Samradi Muzayev, following accusations that she had been unfaithful to her husband while he was away at war.
According to Novaya Gazeta Europe, Muzayev allegedly shaved his daughter’s head before forcing her to dig her own grave and shooting her. Two sources cited by the publication said the murder was motivated by “honour.” When contacted by journalists, Muzayev denied any involvement, claiming his daughter was “alive and healthy” and had “f***ed off abroad.” On a separate call, he asked: “None of it’s true… Who said I killed her?” before ending the conversation.
Zukhra’s husband, 33-year-old Yakub Magomadov, is believed to still be serving in Ukraine as part of Putin’s forces. He was reportedly “unhappy that his wife’s murder was committed without his knowledge,” according to sources cited by Novaya Gazeta Europe. The couple had reportedly been in an arranged marriage since Zukhra was 16 years old. She gave birth to twins the following year and later had a third child with Magomadov. Outside of her family life, she ran a small business selling make-up products on Instagram.
The case has drawn attention to the deeply entrenched and largely hidden problem of honour killings in Chechnya and across the wider north Caucasus region. The Republic of Chechnya is part of the Russian Federation and governed by Ramzan Kadyrov, a powerful strongman and close ally of Vladimir Putin. Human rights organisations have long alleged widespread abuses in the region, and Russian law enforcement has repeatedly been accused of turning a blind eye to honour-based violence against women.
An honour killing is an act of violence carried out against a woman by members of her own family who believe her behaviour has brought shame upon them. Novaya Gazeta Europe has formally called on law enforcement agencies to investigate Zukhra’s disappearance and suspected murder.
