Several people have been detained in Adygea and Kabardino-Balkaria on terrorism charges, the Russian Federal Security Service reported. The agency provided no evidence of the detainees' guilt.
Due to the lack of access to such cases, human rights activists and independent lawyers are unable to verify the FSB's account and rule out fabrication.
Of the 12, 11 were detained in the Zolsky District of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. They are accused of participating in an unspecified international terrorist organization. Law enforcement officials claim that these individuals promoted "radical ideology" and committed "violent acts against citizens who did not share their views."
A criminal case has been opened against the defendants for organizing the activities of a terrorist organization and participating in its activities (Parts 1 and 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code).
Alim Sizhazhev, Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, commented on the arrest.
"These recruiters exploit emotions. They start by saying, 'See what kind of government this is, see how unfair they are,' and so on. Their slogans are beautiful, but in the end, when they try to control the person they want to manipulate, they use these emotions to direct them in the dirty, wrong direction they desire," he said in a video published by Izvestia.
Another man was arrested in Maykop. According to security services, the resident of the capital was planning a terrorist attack against a Russian Defense Ministry facility.
"Homemade incendiary devices and communication devices containing correspondence with a militant from a Ukrainian terrorist organization who coordinated the suspect's activities were seized from the detainee," the agency's website stated.
It was also reported that the Investigative Department of the Federal Security Service (FSB) for the Republic of Adygea opened a criminal case against the detainee for preparing a terrorist attack (Part 1 of Article 30, Part 1 of Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code).
Earlier, the FSB in Karachay-Cherkessia reported the arrest of 66 individuals suspected of participating in the At-Takfir wal-Hijra organization, which is banned in Russia. According to the intelligence agency, the group had been active in the republic for at least six years: its members allegedly held meetings, disseminated the organization's ideology, and recruited new supporters. The court ordered pretrial detention for 65 individuals, and one more was placed under house arrest.
The FSB stated that during the searches, they found extremist literature and other materials, which, according to investigators, confirm the detainees' involvement in the organization. According to the intelligence agency, the cell's alleged coordinators were located outside of Russia.
At-Takfir wal-Hijra has been banned in Russia by a Supreme Court ruling. Human rights activists and researchers have previously noted that evidence of the organization's existence and structure is unavailable for independent verification in cases involving participation in this organization.
