Support The Moscow Times!

Russia’s FSB Detains 15 in North Caucasus for Spreading ‘Extremist Ideology’

screen grab / Federal Security Service

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday that its agents arrested 15 people in the North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, accusing them of spreading “radical ideology” via WhatsApp.

Law enforcement officials said the individuals were “involved in the public dissemination of a radical ideology based on the rejection of traditional Islamic norms and Russian laws” and were implicated in acts of violence driven by religious hatred.

All 15 suspects, identified as Russian citizens, were arrested in the village of Islamey in Kabardino-Balkaria’s Baksan district. They face charges of “creating an extremist community” and “participation in an extremist community,” both of which carry prison sentences of up to 10 years.

FSB video published by state media showed heavily armed security agents entering a house during the night and arresting several individuals. Investigators were seen examining weapons, including pistols, knives and a shotgun, they allegedly found inside the home.

Similar arrests have been reported across Russia in recent months. Last week, the FSB detained a group of women in the republic of Tatarstan who were allegedly attempting to recruit Russian citizens for a banned terrorist organization.

These actions are part of what appears to be a broader crackdown on suspected extremist activities following the deadly attack at a concert hall near Moscow in March.

Russian law enforcement authorities appear to be cracking down harder on suspected terrorist activities following the deadly March attack at a concert hall outside of Moscow.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more