Akhmed Barakhoev
Akhmed Barakhoev, born 1954, Ingushetia. Charges: Article 239 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an non-profit organisation persuading citizens to commit illegal…); Article 282.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Creation and leadership of an extremist community); Article 318 part 2 applied with Article 33 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Use of dangerous violence against a government official (by organized group)); “The case of the rally organisers in Ingushetiia”. Sentence (December 15, 2021): 9 years' imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year 6 months' restriction of liberty, a five-year ban on holding… Status: at large with restrictions. Recognition: Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as a political prisoner, February 20, 2020; Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, July 4, 2019.
In brief
Ingushetia · Magas · Pensioners · Extremism cases, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
9 years
imprisonment in a general regime colony, 1 year 6 months' restriction of liberty, a five-year ban on holding positions in public organisations.
Upheld June 21, 2024
Charges
- Article 239 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an non-profit organisation persuading citizens to commit illegal acts or propaganda of such actions
- Article 282.1 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Creation and leadership of an extremist community
- Article 318 part 2 applied with Article 33 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Use of dangerous violence against a government official (by organized group)
- Article 330.2, Russian Criminal Code — Failure to notify of foreign citizenship or permanent residence in a foreign state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he deliberately made an unlawful decision to continue the mass event on 27 March 2019, using his influence on the population of the republic, including the radical part of it, by making appeals for national unity and by manipulating the historical facts about the deportation of the Ingush people and existing unresolved issues related to the administrative-territorial structure of the Republic of Ingushetiia, he took measures to unite the people present at the square, morally supported them by anticipating that the new participants will soon join the unsanctioned rally and urged them to remain resilient in case of any attempts by the law enforcement officials to forcibly terminate the mass rally. He made statements regarding these circumstances and the possibility of resistance against the authority representatives during a conversation that took place at the site of the unsanctioned rally on the morning of 27 March 2019, with D. Kava, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Ingushetiia, and other representatives of law enforcement agencies. He was involved in organizing the activities of an extremist group and participated in the activities of a non-profit organization that encouraged citizens to refuse to fulfill their civic duties or engage in other unlawful activities, and also he failed to notify about holding a second citizenship.
Latest event
February 17, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial Human Rights Centre, February 20, 2020
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, July 4, 2019
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Imprisonment begins
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 9 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Kabardino-Balkar Republic
· Persecution begins
The case of the rally organisers in Ingushetiia
· Preventive measure: placement in a temporary detention facility
Temporary detention centre (IVS UMVD) for Nalchik
Criminal case
The case of the rally organisers in Ingushetiia
Other defendants in the case
- Musa Malsagov — Imprisoned, 9 years
- Ismail Nalgiev — At large, 8 years
- Zarifa Sautieva — At large, 7 years 6 months
- Malsag Uzhakhov — Imprisoned, 9 years
- Bagaudin Khautiev — Imprisoned, 8 years
- Barakh Chemurziev — At large, 8 years
Thematic group: The case of protests in Ingushetia
Details and sources
Full summary
On 3 April 2019, he was detained on charges of organising violence against the police officers at a rally on 27 March 2019 and sent to a pre-trial detention centre in Nalchik. Later he was transferred to the pre-trial detention centre in Vladikavkaz.
At the end of December 2019, a case was opened for organising the activities of an extremist community. In addition, he was charged with not fulfilling the obligation to notify about the presence of a second citizenship, later the charge was dropped after the statute of limitations was expired.
On 16 March 2021, he went on hunger strike and refused to participate in the trial in connection with Zarifa Sautieva being returned from her house arrest to the pre-trial detention centre. On 23 March, he has stopped his hunger strike after the appeals from the public.
On 15 December, he was sentenced to nine years in a general regime colony.
On 17 February 2026, he was released.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 239 part 3, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.