The sister of the victim of "honor killing" from Azerbaijan complained about the indifference of Georgian investigators.
A 20-year-old resident of Azerbaijan, Fatima Kerimova, moved to Georgia with her boyfriend to get married there. After some time, she was killed by her cousin on the orders of their relatives, who considered Kerimova's departure a disgraceful escape for the family.
Fatima Kerimova moved to Georgia to get married there
According to the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan, the agency sent an official request to the authorities of Georgia, stating its readiness to provide legal assistance and other support in the investigation of the murder of Azerbaijani citizen Fatima Kerimova within the framework of international legal cooperation.
The General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan noted that it is interested in a full, comprehensive, and objective investigation, the agency APA reported on July 6.
The case concerns the murder of 20-year-old Fatima Kerimova, whose body was found in a rented apartment on the outskirts of Tbilisi. Her younger sister Zuleikha believes that the girl became a victim of "honor killing," and the suspect is their 26-year-old cousin. He has already left Georgia and is in Turkey, reported the news agency "News Georgia."
According to Zuleikha, she and her 19-year-old sister Fatima became orphans after their mother died of cancer in 2020, and two years later, their father passed away after a serious illness. The girls lived in Baku, and Fatima worked as a veterinary assistant.
About two months ago, Fatima met a young man who suggested she move to Georgia and get married there. After moving, the man began to show cruelty. "He beat her, extinguished cigarettes on her body. Then he tore up her documents, pawned her phone, took all her money, and eventually just disappeared. Fatima was left on the street in a foreign city – without a penny, without communication, and without a passport," the agency quoted Zuleikha Kerimova's words.
Fatima contacted an acquaintance who helped her find temporary shelter and get in touch with her relatives. Fatima sought help from her 26-year-old paternal cousin. He promised to come to Tbilisi, sort out the document issues, and take her back to Baku. On June 3, he arrived in Georgia and rented an apartment in Varketili, a residential area of Tbilisi.
According to human rights defenders, Fatima's relatives considered her "escape" with the man a disgrace for the family, and the cousin came to commit "honor killing." "During one of the conversations, Fatima confessed that our brother was threatening her with a knife and wanted to kill her. She sent photos with traces of beatings. She begged me not to tell anyone and, no matter how I asked, she didn't tell the address of the house so that I could call the police... She told me: 'I want to live,'" Zuleikha recounted.
Kerimova's sister complained about the indifference of the police
Fatima was forcibly held in the apartment for about two weeks. Later, neighbors told the police that they had heard a loud argument through the wall the day before the tragedy, the Pirveli TV channel reported on its website.
On June 26, Zuleikha was unable to contact her sister. Her brother told her that when he left the apartment, Fatima was sleeping. He did not get in touch again. After some time, Zuleikha managed to find out the address of the apartment, the police broke down the door and discovered Fatima's body. According to preliminary reports, she had been strangled.
Zuleikha buried her sister on June 30 in Azerbaijan; she is trying to seek justice but complained about the indifference of both Georgian and Azerbaijani law enforcement. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has opened a case under the murder article, but details are not disclosed – investigators demanded that Zuleikha personally come to Tbilisi to familiarize herself with the case materials.
The girl complained that she had no money for the trip and accommodation in Tbilisi. Since the crime was committed in Georgia, the Azerbaijani police stated that they could do nothing. Zuleikha demands punishment not only for the murderer but also for Fatima's ex-boyfriend, as he, according to her, destroyed Fatima's documents and deprived her of the opportunity to save herself.
Some of Fatima Kerimova's relatives are already trying to justify the murderer, claiming that he "washed away the shame" and "restored the family's honor," said the head of the human rights organization "Sapari," Baya Pataraya, whose lawyers are trying to obtain for Zuleikha the status of the victim's successor.
A resident of the Agjabadi district of Azerbaijan, Emin Aliyev, accused of murdering Fatima Kerimova, has been detained in Turkey. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia had previously declared him wanted internationally, Media.az reported.
Victims of "honor killings" in the Caucasus are women whose behavior relatives consider a disgrace to the family. These murders are committed by relatives themselves, most often by a father or brother. The term "honor killing," although widely accepted, is not entirely accurate, as it glorifies the murderers. "It is terrible that such a concept as honor killing still exists in the minds of our tribesmen," noted human rights activist Svetlana Anokhina. An article titled "Killed by Gossip" has been published on the "Caucasian Knot" about murders of women for "honor" in the North Caucasus. The "Caucasian Knot" has also prepared a video report on "honor killings" in the Caucasus.