Elina was forcibly confined in a rehabilitation center in Dagestan, a republic in the North Caucasus region of Russia, which her parents sent her to in an attempt to “cure” her of her bisexuality and atheism. She had already endured significant physical and psychological abuse at home, prompting her to run away twice. During her first escape, her parents reported her as missing. Despite her pleas to the police that she did not want to return home, they refused to assist her. 

After her second escape, she was found by two men hired by her relatives and taken to the “Alliance Recovery” rehabilitation center. Inside the clinic, patients faced severe physical violence: those who argued with the staff were handcuffed and suspended. Additionally, they were often deprived of food and forced to perform strenuous physical exercises. For minor infractions, such as using foul language, patients could be made to do 400 squats or 200 push-ups. Arguments among patients were met with handcuff restraints.

After four months of this abuse, Elina’s parents removed her from the clinic, only to lock her in their home and confiscate her phone, which resulted in her expulsion from university. The “Alliance Recovery” clinic is not recognized in the unified register of medical organizations, lacks qualified medical personnel, and advertises a non-existent medical license on its website. The legitimacy of the center’s operations remains in question.

Elina eventually left the country and filed a complaint against the rehabilitation center and its management for illegal deprivation of freedom and unlawful medical practices.

We were involved in her evacuation and continue to provide her with legal support.