Case of Chechen MMA fighter Yakubov shows danger of quoting Basaev

The inclusion of Ilyas Yakubov, a Chechen MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter, into the list of terrorists and extremists has restricted some of his rights. In order for a person to be charged with justifying terrorism, it is not necessary for him/her to justify it literally. It is enough to formulate the message in this vein, lawyers have explained.

He is not the first person to be accused of justifying terrorism for mentioning Basaev, Alexander Verkhovsky, the head of the "Sova" Research Centre*, has noted.

"Aslanbek Khaskhanov was accused of justifying terrorism for citing Shamil Basaev as an example and saying that one should be like him," Mr Verkhovsky has explained, adding that mentioning any terrorist in this context could make grounds for initiating a case.

A human rights defender from Chechnya believes the accusation against Yakubov is absurd. "Such quotes are given in many media reports, but no one is prosecuted for this. Apparently, someone wanted to increase one's performance indicators," he has suggested.

*On August 17, 2023, the First Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction approved the decision taken earlier in April by the Moscow City Court to liquidate the SOVA Human Rights Centre.