Azamat Botashev
Azamat Botashev, born 1989, Karachay-Cherkessia. Charges: Article 222 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Illicit trafficking in firearms or ammunition); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “The case of thirteen persons' involvement with at-Takfir wal-Hijra in Cherkessk”. Sentence (February 25, 2025): 2 years 6 months' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year`s of restricted liberty. Status: location unknown.
In brief
Sentence
2 years 6 months
imprisonment in a general regime penal colony, 1 year`s of restricted liberty
No information about an appeal ruling.
Charges
- Article 222 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Illicit trafficking in firearms or ammunition
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
-
Latest event
October 1, 2026 — imprisonment ends
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 2 years 6 months
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
The case of thirteen persons' involvement with at-Takfir wal-Hijra in Cherkessk
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
The case of thirteen persons' involvement with at-Takfir wal-Hijra in Cherkessk
- Case number
- 1-21/2025 (1-128/2024;)
Other defendants in the case
- Shamil Albotov — Location unknown, 2 years
- Khezir Beregetov — Location unknown, 2 years
- Shamil Botashev — Location unknown, 2 years
- Aslan Gandaev — At large with restrictions, 3 years 2 months
- Shamil Kaziev — At large with restrictions, 3 years 2 months
- Dzhamal Kochkarov — Location unknown, 2 years 6 months
- Shamil Kumukov — Location unknown, 2 years
- Timur Salpagarov — Imprisoned
- Aznaur Semenov — Imprisoned
- Aslan Tokov — Location unknown, 2 years
- Ali Khabchaev — Location unknown, 2 years
- Ruslan Chomaev — Location unknown, 2 years
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia Republic. On 6 December 2023, he was detained and then taken into custody on charges of participation in the activities of an extremist organisation due to his alleged involvement in At-Takfir wal-Hijra (some human rights activists believe that such an organisation does not exist) and possession of weapons. In February 2025, an official report was published, according to which Botashev was sentenced to two and a half years in a general regime penal colony. Supposedly, he was released in October 2025.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 222 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.