Relatives in Kabardino-Balkaria Accuse Authorities of Fabricating Terrorism Cases Against Muslim Detainees

Relatives of dozens of Muslim men detained in overnight raids in Kabardino-Balkaria have filed formal complaints alleging that law enforcement planted evidence, conducted illegal searches, and fabricated terrorism charges. Human rights organisations say at least 48 people were detained during coordinated raids on the night of 13–14 May in the city of Nalchik and the village of Nartan.

According to the Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Centre, searches were conducted at a minimum of 42 households, all targeting practicing Muslims. Six families have submitted formal complaints to the regional Human Rights Commissioner, Boris Zumakulov, and to the Centre itself, accusing security forces of staging the arrests and planting SIM cards and mobile phones during searches.

Despite the large-scale operation, regional law enforcement agencies—including the Interior Ministry, the Investigative Committee, and the Prosecutor’s Office—have made no public announcements about the launch of new terrorism-related cases. The Kabardino-Balkaria branch of the Investigative Committee has also remained silent on the issue since 14 May.

On 15 May, however, the Telegram channel Sapa Kavkaz reported that 16 people had been detained on suspicion of belonging to a banned terrorist organisation. According to the report, the group was allegedly formed by a 39-year-old man named Aslan E., who is accused of recruiting 15 acquaintances between the ages of 23 and 57 to carry out attacks against law enforcement and government institutions. Items seized during the raids reportedly included a sawed-off shotgun, rifles, traumatic and air pistols—some of which had valid permits—as well as knives, religious literature, and nearly 300 rounds of ammunition, including 11 live bullets.

In contrast, the accounts submitted by family members paint a troubling picture of abuse, planted evidence, and fabricated cases.

Ganga Makhmudova reported that law enforcement officers stormed her home in the early hours of 14 May, placing her sons Ansar and Amin Khurum against the wall at gunpoint. “Three people in civilian clothes ran into one of the rooms, and one of them leaned behind the door as if putting something there. I personally saw it,” she wrote. Moments later, a phone with a SIM card was “discovered” in that room. She stated that no warrant was presented during the search.

On 16 May, Ansar Khurum was sentenced to ten days in detention for allegedly disobeying officers. Amin remains in pre-trial detention on charges of involvement in a terrorist organisation.

Rimma Bichekueva said her son Azamat, a father of five, was not at home when their house was searched. In her complaint, she recalled overhearing one officer—apparently unaware that she understood the Kabardian language—say: “Everything is in place, everything has been planted; we can begin.” A phone and SIM card were later “found” in the house. She also described the officers’ behaviour as “rude and frightening,” noting that all the family’s phones and even the children’s tablets were confiscated.

Another complainant, Fatimat Zholabova from Nalchik, reported witnessing one officer place something in the TV cabinet, which another officer then “found” moments later—a phone with a SIM card. Her son Zaur, a father of four who suffers from health issues, is now in custody and, she alleges, has been physically abused.

Yamze Prosvirina said that although only two licensed air pistols were seized from her son Eduard, he was still remanded in custody for two months.

Elina Daurova, the wife of Artur Tenov, reported that a phone was planted during the search of their home and noticed signs of bruising on her husband when she saw him in court.

Another resident, Iza Bersekova from Nartan, claimed that the case against her son Timur was entirely fabricated and that there was no evidence supporting the charges.

Despite the serious nature of these allegations—including illegal searches, the use of physical force, and evidence tampering—there has been no official investigation or public response from authorities in Kabardino-Balkaria. Human rights defenders continue to raise concerns over what they describe as systemic abuse targeting the region’s Muslim population under the pretext of anti-terrorism operations.