A native of Kabardino-Balkaria with US citizenship has remained in pretrial detention for over a year and a half

Timur Kishukov, a native of Kabardino-Balkaria who received US citizenship in 2017, has been in pretrial detention for over a year and a half. His case is currently being heard by the Southern District Military Court. Investigators believe that 38-year-old Kishukov was planning a terrorist attack, participated in an illegal armed group, and underwent terrorist training. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

The defense claims that the criminal case against Kishukov is fabricated. According to the lawyers, before the case was opened, FSB officers attempted to coerce him into cooperating and collecting information on members of the Caucasian diaspora in the United States. After he refused, the defense believes, criminal proceedings were instituted against him. The lawyers also note that Kishukov's US citizenship makes him a potential "exchange fund" in relations between Russia and the United States.

Human rights activist Sergei Davidis, in a commentary given to the publication "Caucasian Knot," noted that holding citizenship in an "unfriendly" country does increase the risk of criminal prosecution in Russia. He also stated that there is no basis to assert that Kishukov was detained for an exchange for a specific individual. However, Davidis did not rule out that such cases could be used to develop a broader pool of potential participants in exchanges and negotiations.

Kishukov was detained in November 2024 during a trip to Kabardino-Balkaria. Prior to his arrest, he lived in Chicago, where he worked as a truck driver and later opened his own logistics company. He has four children.

According to investigators, Kishukov participated in the activities of an illegal armed group and underwent training for it. He denies guilt.

The defense insists that the charges are not supported by sufficient evidence—they are based solely on the testimony of three secret witnesses. According to his lawyers, Kishukov was with his family in Turkey during his alleged stay in Syria.

During the investigation, the court repeatedly extended Kishukov's pretrial detention. He is currently being held in Pretrial Detention Facility No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don, where his criminal case continues.

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A native of Kabardino-Balkaria with US citizenship has remained in pretrial detention for over a year and a half
Human rights
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22 July 2026

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