Russia sentences exiled Circassian activist to seven years over army 'fakes'

Kase Kik

A Russian court has sentenced exiled Circassian activist Kase Kik to seven years in prison in his absence for allegedly spreading false information about the military.

Speaking to the independent news outlet Caucasian Knot, Kik said the ruling was a "politically motivated" response to his human rights advocacy and criticism of the war in Ukraine.

The Cherkessk City Court in southern Russia handed down the verdict, but Kik has lived outside the country since 2022.

"I have not committed any violent acts and have always openly expressed my beliefs," Kik said. "Such court decisions will not change my views and will not force me to abandon my public activities."

He called on international human rights organisations and independent media to continue monitoring similar cases in Russia.

Kik, a native of the Karachay-Cherkessia republic in the North Caucasus, has long been targeted by Russian authorities. On 5 December 2025, the state financial watchdog, Rosfinmonitoring, added him to its official list of terrorists and extremists.

His legal troubles escalated in June 2022, when he was arrested in the regional capital, Cherkessk, after ordering a Ukrainian song at a local cafe. He was sentenced to seven days in jail for minor hooliganism, and later alleged that police had tortured him during his detention.

Kik fled Russia shortly after his release. In July 2024, security forces searched his parents' home, a move the activist described as a clear attempt to exert pressure on him.