Svetlana Anokhina

Svetlana Anatolyevna Anokhina (; born 8 August 1962) is one of the most prominent human rights defenders in Daghestan. She is a journalist, an advocate of women's rights and a co-founder of Marem crisis group.

Life Anokhina was born in Makhachkala.

In her own words, she entered journalism at the age of 38. Soon she became an editor-in-chief of Daptar, the only North Caucasian online media writing on women's rights. In her articles, Anokhina exposed multiple violent practices against women in the North Caucasus, such as domestic abuse, forced marriages, full control by male relatives, female circumcision, etc.

In July 2020, she co-founded Marem, an NGO and a crisis group for victims of gender-based abuse. Marem helps victims of domestic violence from Dagestan, Chechnya and other North Caucasus republics to evacuate from the country and find shelter. In 2021, Anokhina left Russia due to multiple death treats.

In April 2023, a criminal case was opened against her for an alleged "public dissemination of deliberately false information about the use of the Russian Armed Forces." On 19 January 2026, a court in Makhachkala sentenced her to five years in prison; the trial happened in absentia.

In 2024, BBC included her into its list of 100 inspiring and influential women.