A legal case has been opened against residents of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic for assaulting people in Tyrnyauz, part of what authorities describe as a so-called Sharia patrol. The information comes from the Telegram channel maintained by the Republic’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is actively tracking violent acts tied to local extremist groups. This development highlights ongoing concerns about organized violence linked to radical beliefs and the potential for private networks to carry out coercive actions against civilians.
In total, ten individuals from Kabardino-Balkaria, aged between 26 and 54, were detained by special units including SOBR and OMON on suspicions of organizing and taking part in an extremist community. The case underscores persistent worries about clandestine groups that operate across municipal borders, coordinating actions that threaten public safety and the rule of law. Prosecutors and investigators are pursuing charges that reflect the group’s alleged structure and activities, as part of broader efforts to curb violence connected to extremist ideologies in the region.
Investigation materials indicate that the network’s organizer was a 40-year-old Tyrnyauz resident who allegedly recruited nine others from the town in March 2017 to join the criminal enterprise. The group is said to have identified individuals based on behavior or lifestyles considered incompatible with their strict interpretation of religious norms, applying psychological pressure and inflicting physical harm, including beatings with sticks. The authorities emphasize that such actions were planned and executed with a shared purpose to enforce a coercive code within the local community.
According to law enforcement, the criminal network carried out illegal acts against 14 residents and remained active until November 2023. The organizers face charges related to the creation of an extremist community, with the organizer facing the primary charge and the others charged as participants. This case illustrates how violent collectives can persist over years, leveraging local ties to recruit, justify, and conceal their activities, all while challenging the safety and rights of ordinary residents.
On July 5, authorities announced the detention of two additional members of the extremist cell in Kabardino-Balkaria, alongside the group’s organizer, signaling ongoing, sustained efforts to dismantle the network and hold those responsible to account. The arrests reflect a coordinated approach by regional security forces to disrupt active networks and prevent further harm to communities. Investigations continue to unravel the full scope of the group’s operations, including funding channels, recruitment patterns, and potential links to other regional actors seeking to advance rigid ideological goals.
Earlier in Karachay-Cerkessia, reports noted restrictions on face coverings or veils, reflecting broader debates and regulatory responses to perceived religious extremism within the North Caucasus. These developments underscore ongoing security and social challenges in the region, where law enforcement prioritizes preventing violence linked to radical ideologies while balancing civil liberties and cultural practices. Authorities stress the importance of cooperation from residents and communities to identify warning signs, report suspicious activity, and support lawful processes that aim to restore safety and stability across the North Caucasus.
[Source attribution: Telegram channel of the Republic’s Ministry of Internal Affairs]