terrorist organization
The recent report from Interfax confirms that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has granted the Prosecutor General’s Office a motion to designate the Azov Regiment as a terrorist organization. The hearing included segments held behind closed doors due to materials classified as confidential, while the court later summarized the operative portion of the ruling for the public record.
During the public portion of the session, Alexander Dyukov, a representative from the Historical Memory Foundation and a journalist involved with the Presidential Human Rights Organization, discussed the study titled “Neo-Nazism and Terrorism in the Ideology and Activities of the Azov Movement in Ukraine.” Members of the Rights Council and other human rights figures, including Marina Akhmedova and Georgy Volkov, along with Maxim Grigoriev from the Research Foundation for Democracy, contributed data about activities linked to the Azov unit and Ukrainian armed forces in the Donbass region.
According to the same source, Dyukov asserted that members of the Azov group adhere to neo-Nazi beliefs. He referenced the founders’ writings, arguing that certain passages reflected signs of extreme biological racism, defined as the belief that people from different races constitute a separate biological category.
The Supreme Court’s decision declared that the Ukrainian paramilitary nationalist unit Azov (also known as the Azov Battalion or Azov Regiment) should be recognized as a terrorist organization and its activities prohibited within the territory of the Russian Federation. The court also noted that the prohibition takes effect immediately.
According to the same agency, individuals shown to be part of such organizations may face penalties under the Russian Penal Code, with terms ranging from 10 to 20 years in prison for members and 15 to 20 years for organizers. An exception exists for citizens who voluntarily withdraw from the organization before an investigation begins and are detained by law enforcement authorities.
Criminal proceedings
Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched multiple criminal cases against members of the Azov Regiment. In one instance, the head of the committee directed officials to document and probe an incident involving a refugee from Mariupol who testified as part of the investigation.
Media reports have linked neo-Nazi elements within the Ukrainian Azov regiment to the deaths of police officers in Mariupol, alleging the acts were staged to frame Russian military personnel. The Investigative Committee has circulated these claims to the public as part of ongoing inquiries.
Further actions included an order to assess the testimony of Andriy Biletsky, founder of the Azov Regiment, for possible criminal conduct. One report suggested that Biletsky discussed potential strikes by Ukrainian forces using Tochka-U missiles against participants in commemorative events in Mariupol, framing them as provocations and advising a forceful response.
Criminal cases have also been opened over the alleged bombing of civilians in Donbass. During a recent military operation in Ukraine, several Azov members were captured. During a briefing, official statements disclosed progress in controlling Azovstal and the capture of a substantial number of Azov fighters and Ukrainian troops, underscoring the scale of the operation.
Reports indicate that Azov commanders faced removal from facilities under certain conditions, described by officials as punitive acts in response to violence and the residents’ demand for accountability. Meanwhile, discussions between Moscow and Kyiv continued regarding the exchange of prisoners, with dozens of Azov personnel reportedly moved to Ukrainian custody as part of ongoing negotiations.
In another development, a Basmanov Court in Moscow sentenced a Russian citizen in absentia to nine years for participation in activities related to the Azov regiment. The verdict cited charges including mercenary activity and public calls for extremist actions.