Around 30 human rights defenders and activists from the North Caucasus and Krasnodar Krai have demanded that the criminal prosecution of journalist Larisa Tuptsokova be dropped, declaring the absence of a crime.

The appeal to the head of Adygea, Marat Kumpilov, initiated by the Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Center, emphasizes that Tuptsokova ceased working with the Circassian Cultural Center in Tbilisi before the organization was designated as extremist. The signatories note that Tuptsokova's primary work at the center was literary translations and publications in the Circassian language, and that her activities "cannot in any way be connected" to the crime with which she is accused.

Earlier, Circassian Media journalist and Circassian activist Larisa Tuptsokova, who lives in Georgia, announced that a criminal case had been opened against her in Russia for participating in an extremist organization.