The Chechen state television channel (ChGTRK) "Grozny" recently aired an investigative report on a brawl involving gunfire that took place in the capital of North Ossetia on the night of October 17–18. The incident involved Chechen "pop-MMA" fighter Ibragim Islamov, known by the nickname "Nikarkho." According to the channel, Islamov was the instigator and primary culprit behind the conflict—an event that not only caused a major stir in North Ossetia and Chechenia but also drew in a large number of people from other regions of the North Caucasus.
In its report, Grozny TV described the incident involving Ibragim Islamov in Vladikavkaz as an "inglorious and shameful end to a night out," emphasizing that his actions "created a risk of an interethnic conflict."
Grozny TV reports that the conflict began at night inside the "360 Degrees" restaurant and later spilled out onto the street. Published footage shows members of Islamov’s group dancing and behaving provocatively at the venue—including making unwanted advances toward women—followed by a scene of several men fighting in the street. The channel claims that, just before the altercation, the fighter vowed to "knock out two people" and asked a companion to record it on a mobile phone.
The report further states that, while still inside the restaurant, Islamov asked a bartender to cut a plastic straw in half—ostensibly for the consumption of illicit substances. According to the channel, a blood test performed on the fighter revealed the presence of several types of narcotics. Grozny TV reports that two people sustained jaw fractures during a fight and were taken to the hospital.
According to the account presented in the report, the two victims were left lying on the ground following the altercation. Two bystanders approached them; one attempted to assist the injured men and then fired a warning shot into the ground using a non-lethal (traumatic) weapon. This did not stop Islamov—the channel claims the fighter attacked the man who had come to help the victims.
The second bystander then fired at Islamov, striking him in the head. The channel notes that law enforcement authorities have deemed the shooter’s actions unlawful.
Islamov has since regained consciousness, and his life is not in danger. Criminal cases have been opened against all participants in the conflict.
The report also recalls a traffic accident on the Troitsky Bridge in St. Petersburg in April 2024, in which a passenger in Islamov’s vehicle was injured. Following the crash, the fighter fled the scene; he was subsequently placed on a wanted list and later detained, spending several months in a pre-trial detention center.
After that incident, Islamov promised to change his behavior. The Grozny TV segment includes footage of the fighter saying: "In the future, I won't let things like this happen again. I will set an example for the younger generation—insha'Allah—and I won't allow such incidents to recur."
As reported by *Novy DOSH*, a delegation from Chechnya, led by the Chairman of the Chechen Parliament, Akhmed Dudayev, visited Vladikavkaz yesterday, where they met with the Head of North Ossetia, Sergey Menyailo, and the republic’s leadership. A joint meeting was also held with Chechen students studying in the neighboring republic.
"When we visit one another—whether in the North Caucasus or other regions of our country—we must keep in mind that the people living in these republics and regions have their own traditions, customs, mentality, and identity. Every nation has its own social norms and order; there is such a thing as a code of conduct," Dudaev said, addressing the Chechen students.
It is clear that he was articulating the position of the head of Chechnya, under whose directive the official delegation traveled to North Ossetia.
Yesterday’s visit and the report by the Grozny TV channel clearly demonstrate the stance of the Chechen leadership regarding the conflict in Vladikavkaz, as well as their determination—shared by the leadership of North Ossetia—to prevent what both sides have described as a minor, everyday incident from escalating into an interethnic conflict.
