Social media users sympathized with Aslan Yemkuzhev's fight for justice for his son.

Kazbek Emkuzhev is accused of participating in a terrorist organization. There are seven defendants in the case, three of whom—Kazbek Emkuzhev, 19-year-old Tamirlan Chepchikov, and 26-year-old Ratmir Murachaev—were abducted by unknown individuals, beaten, and subjected to electric shock. On April 12, 2024, security forces announced that Chepchikov and Murachaev had been "eliminated" during a counterterrorism operation; no investigation was conducted into their deaths. On April 11, 2024, during a counter-terrorism operation (CTO) in a gardening community in Nalchik, security forces killed two people. The victims were members of a cell of an international terrorist organization and were planning sabotage and terrorist attacks in Kabardino-Balkaria, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee. The Investigative Committee reported opening a criminal case for the attempted murder of security officials and the illegal trafficking of weapons and explosives. A video message from Aslan Emkuzhev to the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Bastrykin, and Prosecutor General Alexander Gutsan was published by the Memorial Human Rights Center* on YouTube. In one week, the recording has garnered over 31,942 views, 610 likes, and 411 comments.

In his statement, Yemkuzhev outlined the circumstances of his son's abduction, which he had previously disclosed: on April 9, security forces seized Kazbek near his home, forced him into a car, and drove him away in an unknown direction. His father filed a police report that same day, and the following day, he was able to obtain CCTV footage of the abduction.

Kazbek Yemkuzhev was "found" almost a month after the abduction, on May 3, during an interrogation in the investigator's office, where he was charged. Aslan Yemkuzhev revealed a new detail: for 25 days between April 9 and May 3, 2024, Kazbek was not only tortured, including with electric shocks, but also blackmailed and threatened against his loved ones.

"Kazbek was shown surveillance footage of his girlfriend and mother walking down the street, unsuspecting, and told they would arrest them unless Yemkuzhev signed a confession," the video description reads.

Aslan Yemkuzhev himself emphasizes in his appeal that the investigative body acknowledged the kidnapping of his son, but no criminal case for abuse of power by security forces was opened. "The argument for refusing to open a criminal case is that the kidnappers' faces and the car's license plate are impossible to discern in the video. By their logic, no matter what crime was committed, it doesn't need to be investigated, and no criminal case needs to be opened if the perpetrators' faces aren't visible in the video," Yemkuzhev Sr. says.

Most of the comments under the video expressed sympathy for Yemkuzhev. "Poor father, you can see how much pain you're in, it's hard to talk about," remarked user Maytab-r2ch. "May Allah help and return your son in good health and of sound mind. May Allah test those who are torturing him with the same test, so that he will admit guilt in what he is not guilty of," wrote AzamatTrimov-u9n.

"We are all praying for your son, may he be resolved," said Malvinafjfj. "May God grant your son return home, and may those who commit this vile act answer to God. I believe that the boomerang exists and no one can hide from it," wrote afinabairaktarova7308.

“Werewolves! There is a law. It is the foundation of everything. The law upholds the presumption of innocence! Before a person can be “accused,” their guilt must be proven. If, instead, the person is kidnapped, then the kidnapper is guilty. Kidnapping carries a prison sentence of up to five years, and torture carries a prison sentence of up to seven years. It's terrifying that in such a situation, anyone subjected to torture can be deprived of their liberty. Even more terrifying is that these people are among us,” wrote Ivan29EE.

“What do you mean, torture with electric shock? You were entrusted to work in the law enforcement agencies! Surely you have a language! You are human beings, aren't you? Where is your humanity, honor, and conscience? He is a living, breathing young man! I feel sorry for his family, his father and mother, who are very worried. This appeal should help and sort this out!!” - NatalyaRybnikova-sh5e was outraged.

“We demand the immediate release of this illegally detained man! Who gave them the right to detain someone whose guilt has not been proven? This is a malicious, illegal kidnapping, we demand a thorough investigation of this case! And what kind of threats are these against relatives? What right do they have to threaten to detain relatives?!” - just_someone-y9l was outraged. “I hope they pay attention to this case. It’s already getting scary that this is happening,” wrote user pantyboom7677.

“Where is the evidence of this guy’s ties to a banned organization? Apparently, there aren’t any, since they haven’t presented any. It seems like these are the methods of werewolves in uniform: beat a confession of guilt, and then milk it. Give the father and family the strength to succeed in restoring justice!” - wrote KanshaoBey.

“May Allah help you in these difficult times, stay strong. You should have appealed to the president himself; he is fair and would have taken matters into his own hands. I hope your son is released,” wrote LyubovPolovna.

* are included in the register of foreign agents.

** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.