Chechen community of Yugra refuses claims to Ilyaskhanov

A representative of the Chechen authorities in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra has assured that there are no plans to send Arthur Ilyaskhanov, a native of Dagestan, to Chechnya for the insulting statements voiced by him on behalf of Chechens.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on July 23, in Nizhnevartovsk, Arthur Ilyaskhanov, a 37-year-old resident of Khasavyurt, broke two bottles belonging to a store in protest that he was not sold alcohol. The man called himself a Chechen, threatened to resort to his “connections,” and insulted a Russian employee of the store. Arthur Ilyaskhanov also questioned the effectiveness of the actions of the Russian troops in Ukraine.

On July 25, a video of the Arthur Ilyaskhanov’s apology was also posted on the Internet. On July 26, the Nizhnevartovsk City Court arrested Arthur Ilyaskhanov for 15 days, finding him guilty of inciting hatred or enmity. Earlier, after the incident, he was fined 32,000 roubles under the articles on petty hooliganism and discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. Arthur Ilyaskhanov himself said that, after serving his term of arrest, he wanted to return home to Khasavyurt, but feared that he would be taken to Chechnya. The man explained that he got threats from members of the Chechen community.

According to Abbaz Abdulkhazhiev, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Chechen Republic in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, Arthur Ilyaskhanov is not in danger of being sent to Chechnya after his debauch in a store in Nizhnevartovsk. “Well, Arthur Ilyaskhanov was sentenced to 15 days of arrest. I have no idea what will happen to him next. He has already received his punishment. And alleged plans to send him to Chechnya are just a gossip. He is a native of Dagestan, why should he be sent to Chechnya?” said Abbaz Abdulkhazhiev as quoted by the “Ura.ru” late in the evening on August 2.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 3, 2022 at 02:09 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.