A resident of Cherkessk received a sentence for involvement with ISIS*

The court sentenced 16 years of imprisonment to a resident of Cherkessk, Ikhtiyar Bekturdiev, recognizing him as a participant in a terrorist organization.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", in March, a citizen of Tajikistan, Alimardon Karimov, was convicted for involvement with the terrorist organization "Islamic State"*, to which he pledged allegiance while serving his sentence in a colony in Stavropol.

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 16 years in a strict regime colony to a resident of Cherkessk, Ikhtiyar Bekturdiev, finding him guilty under part 2 of article 205.5 (participation in the activities of a terrorist organization) and part 1.1 of article 205.1 (assistance to terrorist activities) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, reports today "Kommersant" citing the court's press service.

Ikhtiyar Bekturdiev is a citizen of Uzbekistan, as noted in a publication posted today on the court's page on "VKontakte".

According to the court, from July to October 2023, the man, communicating via messenger with an unidentified member of a group belonging to the terrorist organization "Islamic State"*, "adopted the ideology of the specified terrorist organization".

"In October 2023, Bekturdiev recorded a video message on his mobile phone, in which he pledged allegiance to one of the leaders of the specified terrorist organization and sent it to a member of this organization," the message states.

From December 2023 to April 14, 2025, Bekturdiev, as the court believes, at the direction of a member of the terrorist organization, "offered his close circle, consisting of six natives of the Republic of Uzbekistan", to join the terrorist organization. As a result, one of the defendant's acquaintances joined a cell of the terrorist organization.

"A sentence of 16 years of imprisonment in a strict regime correctional colony has been imposed, with the first 3 years to be served in prison. The sentence has not yet entered into legal force and can be appealed," the court reported.

Recall that in March, the Southern District Military Court found the native of Ust-Djeguta, Rasul Umarov, guilty of financing terrorism and sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment. According to the prosecution, Umarov became involved in financing "Islamic State"*.

Materials on the influence of ISIS* on the activities of militants in the North Caucasus have been collected by "Caucasian Knot" on the thematic page "Caucasus under the Caliphate's Crosshairs". Also, on "Caucasian Knot", a reference is available "Natives from the Caucasus in the Ranks of ISIS"*.

* terrorist organization banned in Russia by court.

** the activities of the company Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.