After closing his extremism case, Ossetian blogger seeks full rehabilitation

The case of Batraz Misikov, a blogger from North Ossetia, accused of extremism for his post on the Telegram, has been closed due to the statute of limitations, but he intends to seek full rehabilitation and has already appealed to the Supreme Court. His colleagues and friends explain his decision as a desire for justice, although they doubt that it was worth challenging such a court decision.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 11, 2022, it became known that the blogger Batraz Misikov, who wrote under the pseudonym "Batraz Sidamon", was accused of promoting the superiority of Russians over Ossetians and inciting hatred towards the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) and Russian state. An interview with a linguist revealed violations in the procedure; and his defence demanded that his conclusion be declared invalid.

The reason for the administrative case was a post with a comment on the initiative of activists of the "Nyfs" movement to rename Lenin Street in honour of Hero of the Soviet Union Toguzov. The blogger's defence insists that Misikov exercised his right to the freedom of speech.

The persons against whom administrative cases have been terminated due to the statute of limitations can obtain reimbursement of legal expenses, for example, for an advocate, Agube Gagloev, a lawyer, has noted.

In her turn, Indira Gabolaeva, a lawyer and an activist, believes that there is no need to seek complete rehabilitation. "I treat the dismissal of the case against Misikov as a public victory," she has stated said.

Earlier, activists and bloggers asserted that the case against Misikov has to do with his civic position. If the court finds him guilty, this could be a start of mass persecutions for expressing one's opinion, they believe.