Barakh Chemurziev
Barakh Chemurziev, born 1969, Ingushetia. Charges: Article 282.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in 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): 2 years 2 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony; 2 years' ban on participation in public speaking. Status: at large. 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 · Politicians · Extremism cases, Cases related to mass actions
Sentence
8 years
2 years 2 months' imprisonment in a general regime colony; 2 years' ban on participation in public speaking
Upheld June 21, 2024
Charges
- Article 282.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in 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)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, he made a knowingly illegal decision to continue the mass event on March 27, 2019. Using his influence over the population of the republic, including its radicalized part, he called for national unity, manipulated historical facts about the deportation of the Ingush people, and addressed unresolved issues related to the administrative-territorial structure of the Republic of Ingushetia. He took steps to unite people present at the square, morally supporting them by assuring the arrival of new participants for the unauthorized rally, and urging them to stand firm in case of an attempt by law enforcement officers to forcibly terminate the mass event; he participated in the activities of an extremist organization.
Latest event
August 18, 2025 — 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 · 8 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
- Akhmed Barakhoev — At large with restrictions, 9 years
- 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
Thematic group: The case of protests in Ingushetia
Details and sources
Full summary
A resident of Ingushetia. On 3 April 2019, he was detained on charges of organising violence against police officers at a rally on 27 March 2019 and sent to a pre-trial detention centre in Nalchik. At the end of December 2019, a case on participation in the activities of an extremist group was opened.
On 16 March 2021, he went on hunger strike and refused to participate in the trial due to the return of Zarifa Sautieva from house arrest to the pre-trial detention centre. On 23 March, he stopped his hunger strike after appeals from the public.
On 15 December, he was sentenced to eight years in a general regime colony. He was released in February 2025.
In July 2025, the court imposed eight years of administrative supervision on Chemurziev, under which he is not allowed to leave his place of residence without notification, must report to the police once a month, and must seek approval for any trips advance. He is also prohibited from participating in rallies, demonstrations and marches.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 282.1 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.