Bakaev, native of Chechnya, fined for criticizing Kadyrov's men

A court in Chechnya has fined Ali Bakaev, a native of the republic living in Ukraine, in absentia, finding him guilty of inciting hatred against Kadyrov's supporters. Russian law enforcers plan to repeatedly seek his extradition to Russia, Bakaev himself has suggested.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January 2022, the "Vayfond" human rights association stated that Ali Bakaev, as a critic of Chechen authorities, risks being killed if he returns from Ukraine to his homeland. The "Vayfond" then called on the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, to prevent Bakaev's extradition.

The Vedeno District Court of Chechnya found Bakaev guilty of inciting hatred and enmity due to his video about Kadyrov's men and the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. Bakaev was fined by 10,000 roubles – this is the minimum punishment under the article, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* project has reported.

Let us recall that in October 2021, Ali Bakaev stated that charges of organizing an attack on law enforcers in the village of Naurskaya were brought against him not on the basis of evidence, but because of his affiliation with Salafis. Russia is seeking the deportation of Bakaev from Ukraine amid the massive inclusion of natives from the Caucasus into sanctions lists there, Evgeny Zakharov, the director of the Kharkov human rights group, has stated.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.