The case against a Chechen athlete accused of justifying terrorism was refused to be declared illegal

The Moscow City Court refused to recognize as illegal the decision to initiate a criminal case against a native of Chechnya, Ilyas Yakubov. Previously, the MMA athlete was arrested on charges of justifying terrorism. The reason for the arrest was his publication on social networks.

In the video, the athlete is training, and in the background is a recording of a monologue by Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev: “We have no other way, because our people can be defeated, but cannot be conquered.” Lawyer Abdul-Kerim Taramov said that there is no evidence in the case that the profile with the nickname “ilyas_yakubov91” belongs to Yakubov.

Ilyas Yakubov comes from the Chechen city of Shali. He is the champion of the Shali region in freestyle wrestling, a master of sports in combat sambo, and a winner of the Moscow Cup in pankration.

Последние новости
Ukraine attacked southern Russia: children died in Krasnodar, and Ozon warehouses were hit
Politics
Ukraine attacked southern Russia: children died in Krasnodar, and Ozon warehouses were hit
24 August 2026

Overnight into August 24, drones attacked several regions in southern Russia. The consequences were most tragic in Krasnodar: drone debris fell on a private children's center, killing two children and injuring seven other children and two adults. This was reported by Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Krasnodar Krai.

Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
Human rights
Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
23 August 2026

Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).

Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
Politics
Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
23 August 2026

Azerbaijan intends to continue developing relations with Russia, despite the deteriorating media narrative surrounding Baku in Russian outlets. Rahman Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Russia, stated this in an interview with RTVI.

Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
Politics
Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
23 August 2026

Wildfires broke out in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions due to falling drone debris. In the Rostov region, the railway overhead power line was also damaged, while in the Kuban region, three people—including two children—were killed in an attack the previous day.