Authorities in Russia’s North Ossetia republic have said they are taking measures to protect Karina Kodzayeva, who became the target of an online harassment campaign after posts published by platforms affiliated with the Caucasian Community movement. In a response to journalist Ksenia Sobchak’s appeal, the office of the regional human rights commissioner said the case is under the personal supervision of regional head Sergei Menyaylo and that law enforcement agencies may seek to block channels used to distribute unlawful content and identify those responsible for administering them.

Sobchak published the official response on her Telegram channel Bloody Lady ("Krovavaya Barynya"). The document indicates that her appeal was reviewed after the widespread public backlash surrounding the online persecution of Kodzayeva.

According to the letter, regional authorities continuously monitor the internet to identify content and other factors that could increase social tensions or negatively affect the republic’s political and public security situation. It adds that law enforcement agencies confirmed reports of the online harassment targeting Kodzayeva.

The authorities stressed that the investigation did not begin in response to Sobchak’s appeal. It was launched earlier after Kodzayeva herself filed a complaint with law enforcement. The latest statement clarifies what measures could follow the inquiry.

These include the possible blocking of channels distributing what officials describe as "destructive information," as well as identifying the administrators of those platforms and the authors of posts and comments that may contain evidence of unlawful conduct.

The regional human rights commissioner’s office has also become involved. Officials said they contacted Kodzayeva directly, informed her about available legal remedies, and offered legal assistance.

The document states that the authorities are taking "comprehensive measures" to protect Kodzayeva’s rights and freedoms and reiterates that the case remains under Menyaylo’s personal oversight.

From photographs to death threats

The controversy began after photographs of Karina Kodzayeva wearing jeans and a sleeveless top circulated on social media. As previously reported by New DOSH, the images were published, among other places, by platforms associated with the Caucasian Community, a movement established in January 2026 that says its mission is to defend traditional social norms in the Caucasus.

The criticism of her appearance quickly escalated into a coordinated online harassment campaign. Users began sharing what was claimed to be her home address and other personal information, while Kodzayeva and members of her family received insults and threats. She subsequently made her social media accounts private.

On July 28, journalist Ksenia Sobchak publicly appealed to Sergei Menyaylo, urging him to respond to the situation, investigate the activities of the Caucasian Community, and stop calls for violence.

"Calls to deprive women of their health or even their lives are not something a regional leader should ignore," Sobchak said.

She also called for the movement’s online platforms to be blocked for inciting hatred. Shortly afterwards, the Caucasian Community Telegram channel became unavailable. Telegram said it had been blocked for violating the platform’s rules and promoting violence.

Debate over "traditional values"

Members of the Caucasian Community have said they aim to resist the erosion of traditional norms and the cultural assimilation of the peoples of the Caucasus. They argue that publicly criticizing the behavior and appearance of men and women is a legitimate way of preserving local identity.

Critics, however, say the movement has evolved into a campaign of public surveillance over people's private lives. They argue that photographs have been published without consent, accompanied by insults, the disclosure of personal information, and, in some cases, direct threats.

The debate has expanded well beyond Kodzayeva’s case. Supporters of stricter protection of local traditions link the controversy to broader concerns about cultural assimilation, the declining role of the Ossetian language in education, and the downgrading of native-language instruction to what they describe as an effectively optional subject.

Opponents of the Caucasian Community responded by launching a rival initiative. Activists took control of a social media account originally called "There Is No Escort on the Caucasus" and renamed it "There Is No Bullying in the Caucasus." They began publishing testimonies about domestic violence and identifying some of the individuals allegedly involved in the online harassment of women.

Sobchak accused of selective criticism

Sobchak’s intervention also sparked debate. Some critics accused the journalist of applying double standards, arguing that while she demanded law enforcement action and the blocking of the Caucasian Community, she had not responded with comparable public criticism in cases involving intimidation and direct physical threats against Muslim and Caucasian women by activists linked to the Russian Community movement.

As a result, the dispute surrounding Karina Kodzayeva has grown far beyond the harassment of a single woman. It has developed into a broader debate over the limits of protecting traditional values, the legitimacy of public scrutiny of private lives, and whether the state and public figures respond consistently to campaigns of harassment regardless of who initiates them.