Following the wounding of Chechen MMA fighter Ibragim Islamov—known by the nickname "Nikarkho"—residents of Chechnya and North Ossetia have been discussing the circumstances of the incident. While accounts of what transpired vary, many public figures, bloggers, and social media users are urging against framing the conflict in terms of interethnic tensions.

According to one version of events, the conflict began at a local restaurant, where Chechen men allegedly harassed some young women. A group of Ossetian men intervened, leading to a brawl between the two parties. The altercation then spilled out onto the street, where one of the individuals involved used a non-lethal (traumatic) handgun, wounding Islamov.

The day after the incident, the Ossetian outlet "Sapa Media" published a document presented as the results of a medical examination of Islamov. The outlet claimed that the fighter’s biological samples tested positive for several potent substances, including methadone, tramadol, and pregabalin.

Friends and fans of Islamov have rejected this account, questioning the authenticity of the document. They maintain that the fighter strictly avoids both drugs and alcohol.

Many public figures, politicians, and bloggers from North Ossetia have come to the defense of the man who shot Islamov, arguing that his actions were a matter of self-defense.

Soslan Didarov, a deputy in the Parliament of North Ossetia, stated that Ossetians have always been open to friendship with people of other nationalities, though he lamented that some mistake Ossetian hospitality for weakness.

"Ossetians have always been decent and noble people." “[…] Ossetians have always advocated for good-neighborly relations, built bridges of friendship, and extended help to those truly in need. […] Yet, some tend to mistake this kindness and traditional Ossetian hospitality for weakness. That is why, time and again, such incidents occur,” said Didarov.

He urged visitors to the republic to respect local customs and traditions, emphasizing that an individual’s behavior away from home reflects upon their family and their people.

“It is always important to remember that once you step outside your own home, you become a representative of your family, your clan, your lineage—and, ultimately, your entire nation,” the deputy stated.

Addressing the recent conflict, Didarov expressed his hope for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.

“No one—no sane, rational person—wishes evil upon others, let alone physical harm, death, or anything of the sort. We, too, hope that all those who were injured recover as soon as possible,” he said.

The deputy further stressed that those visiting North Ossetia must respect local norms of conduct and refrain from making offensive remarks toward the local population.

A blogger from Chechnya, who runs the Instagram account @coach_of_discipline, expressed his disagreement with those who have publicly defended the shooter instead of helping to de-escalate the tension.

“Instead of smoothing things over and trying to shift the focus from an ethnic issue to a personal, everyday matter, some bloggers from that republic chose to record a statement claiming that this man [the shooter] acted in a ‘manly’ way. Since when, in the Caucasus, has shooting an unarmed, wounded person been considered an act of courage?” "It was considered the ultimate disgrace to shoot even an adversary in the back," the blogger stated.

He also urged people not to offer unconditional support to either side of the conflict.

"Anyone who thinks one side is in the right—well, absolutely everyone involved is in the wrong! Simply by virtue of being in a nightlife venue—a place where a conflict could hypothetically break out on any given night!

There is no 'right' side in this conflict! Both sides are in the wrong! Period!

Please, do not bring ethnic groups into this!" he urged.

A blogger from North Ossetia, busik_tedeti, also spoke out against framing the conflict as an interethnic issue.

"There is no need to turn a personal altercation into an interethnic [conflict]. You have to understand that things like this happen all the time in establishments of this kind. And ask yourself this: what was he—an athlete—doing in a place like that at such an hour?" he wrote.

As a reminder, the incident took place on the night of October 17–18 in the center of Vladikavkaz. According to the North Ossetian Interior Ministry, an argument between several young men escalated into a fight, during which one of the individuals pulled out a non-lethal (traumatic) handgun and fired several shots. Two men, including Islamov, were taken to the hospital. The fighter’s manager previously reported that one of the bullets struck him in the forehead, and that the athlete underwent surgery following the injury.

The police have identified the individuals involved in the altercation; one has been taken into custody, while the others are being sought. Criminal cases have been initiated regarding the infliction of grievous and moderate bodily harm, as well as the illegal possession of weapons.

On October 19, the athlete’s manager, Artem Lobanov, reported that he had regained consciousness. According to him, Islamov now faces a period of recovery.

That same day, the head of North Ossetia, Sergey Menyailo, demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. During an administrative meeting, he noted that such late-night altercations at entertainment venues are not the first of their kind and proposed restricting the operating hours of restaurants during the night.

"I propose limiting the nighttime operating hours of restaurants—this falls within our regional authority," Menyailo stated.

He instructed that the initiative be discussed with the owners of such establishments and that a potential draft law be developed.

The head of the republic also urged visitors to respect local customs, remarking: "We welcome guests, but guests should not behave as if they own our home."

Following Menyailo’s statement, some social media users argued that the authorities should go beyond mere calls for order and take concrete action. Other commenters criticized the focus on the behavior of visitors, pointing out that responsibility for the incident should be determined based on the specific circumstances of the altercation.