Four residents of Ingushetia were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in the "Caucasus Emirate"* case.

The court found four residents of Ingushetia guilty of participating in a terrorist organization, an illegal armed group, and possession of weapons and explosives, sentencing them to terms ranging from 17 to 20 years. The defendants denied their guilt.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in October 2022, the Investigative Committee completed its criminal investigation into Arbi Batayev, Adam and Timur Kodzoyev, and Iriskhan Mereshkov, members of the international terrorist organization "Caucasus Emirate"*, which is banned in Russia. They were charged with participating in a terrorist organization, forming an illegal armed group, and illegally trafficking weapons, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices.

According to the court, between November 14, 2013, and January 2020, the convicted men joined an illegal armed group of a banned international terrorist organization in Ingushetia, the press service of the Southern District Military Court reported on its Telegram channel on February 5.

Arbi Bataev, Adam and Timur Kodzoev, and Iriskhan Mereshkov were involved in supporting the group's activities, including by transporting other members (as previously reported by the investigation, in particular, Yusup Bunguev), finding them places to hide, and illegally storing firearms, ammunition, explosive devices, and explosives.

At the court hearing, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the crimes they were charged with.

They were found guilty of participating in a terrorist organization 1 , participating in an armed group 2 , and possessing weapons and explosives. The court sentenced Arbi Bataev to 17 years, with the first six years to be served in prison, and a fine of 600,000 rubles. Adam Kodzoev received a 19-year sentence, with the first seven years to be served, and a fine of 660,000 rubles. Timur Kodzoev received an 18-year sentence, with the first six years to be served, and a fine of 600,000 rubles. Iriskhan Mereshkov received a 20-year sentence, with the first seven years to be served, and a fine of 660,000 rubles.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that security forces may mention the functioning of the "Caucasus Emirate"* cell in Ingushetia in criminal cases to demonstrate their work, as orientalist Alexei Malashenko previously noted. The investigation's version of events regarding this cell is not credible, as there have been previous cases of intelligence agencies publishing false information, noted human rights activist Magomed Mutsolgov. Perhaps the Caucasus Emirate* has begun to appear again in criminal cases due to the escalation of separatism, suggested lawyer Timofey Shirokov.

* is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

** The activities of Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.