Defence achieves cancellation of fine imposed on Ingush Mufti

The Supreme Court (SC) of Ingushetia has agreed to stop considering the case on the illegal missionary activities of Isa Khamkhoev, the republic's Mufti. The SC's decision has freed Khamkhoev from paying the fine, his advocate has explained.

The courts had twice imposed fines on Khamkhoev of 10,000 roubles each for holding a sitting, which asked the Russian President Vladimir Putin to soften the freedom restraint measure to leaders of Magas protests, and for holding election of the Mufti in August 2020 without notifying the authorities. On May 27, 2021, the court fined Khamkhoev for the third time, recognizing his preaching in the mosque as illegal missionary activities.

The article on illegal missionary activities is not applicable to a Mufti, Magomed-Basir Ozdoev, Khamkhoev's advocate, is sure. The fines imposed by the courts on the Mufti are a part of authorities' policy aimed to destroy all independent public institutions in Ingushetia, the human rights defenders interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have suggested.

The advocate has recalled that the case against Khamkhoev was initiated in April 2021; while the limitation statute expired on July 7. The judge granted the petition and freed Khamkhoev from the fine.