Trans man from Chechnya found dead in Batumi; relatives suspect he was killed

Dmitry Menyaev, a 21-year-old ethnic Chechen man, was found dead in his apartment in Batumi, Georgia on August 15, 2025. The cause of his death remains unclear, as he had been last seen online on August 3. Neighbors had complained of a strong smell, prompting emergency responders to enter the apartment. Lawyers for Menyaev's family, Zviad Markoidze, revealed that the victim was a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

The investigation has been opened for incitement to suicide, but his family suspects that he may have been killed due to honor killing or transphobia. They believe that relatives from his Chechen side, unaware of his transition, may have committed the act under the belief that he "needed to get married." Signs of forced entry and violent marks were discovered in the apartment.

Recently, several cases of Chechen women who fled domestic violence in Georgia have been reported, including Laura Avtorkhanova in July 2025 and Aishat Baimuradova in the fall of 2025. Both cases involved relatives attempting to locate and kidnap the women, with some victims being killed by those close to the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

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