Svetlana Anokhina

Runaways

The Marem Group is a team of volunteers helping victims of domestic violence in the North Caucasus, Russia. It was created in 2020 by Dagestani journalist Svetlana Anokhina. After their shelter was raided by a joined team of Chechen and Dagestani cops, they had to leave Russia. But Svetlana continues to evacuate girls. The documentary traces these runaways on different phases of evacuation – from their republics to the long process of rehabilitation in other countries. But abusers threaten not only girls. Members of the Marem Group are not safe even outside Russia. They can also become runaways at any moment.

We Have This Happening

Female circumcision is the name given to female genital mutilation. Female circumcision is practiced, including in the North Caucasus. There is no age limit; both an adult woman and a baby can trim the clitoris and labia. Most often girls 5-12 years old are circumcised. The authors spoke with women who were circumcised, found out where this mutilating rite came from and how it relates to Islam, and also answered the question of why the numerous victims are silent.