Chechen Opposition Group Reports Continued Detentions and Raids
Grozny, Chechnya – The Chechen opposition movement, NIYSO (“equality” or “justice”), has reported a continuing wave of mass detentions and raids across the republic, according to a statement released on their Telegram channel. The group alleges that individuals, including relatives, are being targeted and threatened with prolonged separation from their families. NIYSO claims to have received reports from multiple districts, citing instances of intimidation and coercion.
A key piece of evidence cited by the movement involves a WhatsApp message purportedly sent by Rustam Aguev, head of the Interior Ministry department for Kurchaloy district, instructing individuals to cease inquiries regarding detained family members. Recent reports detail the abduction of residents in Nizhny Noyber and Pobedinskoye, including three individuals from Nizhny Noyber – Makhdi Khasanov, his wife, and brother Musa Khasanov. Furthermore, fifteen individuals were reportedly taken from the Pobedinskoye settlement, bearing surnames such as Dudarov, Gaitiev, Khizirov, Khakiev, and Sunaypov.
NIYSO asserts that these detentions are linked to the circle of MP Adam Delimkhanov and suggest some detainees are being pressured into military service, with alleged extortion occurring – with relatives being asked to pay substantial sums, reportedly “hundreds of thousands of rubles.”
The movement has previously documented hundreds of alleged abductions, including elderly individuals from the Sheikh Iznaur settlement in Grozny. They claim some individuals have died due to torture and others have been deployed to fight in Ukraine. NIYSO, established in 2022, regularly publishes reports of alleged human rights violations in Chechnya, often criticizing Chechen leadership.
However, verification of these claims remains challenging due to limited access to information. The movement was declared an “extremist organization” by a regional Supreme Court in 2025.
Topics: #niyso #new #wave
This ongoing situation in Chechnya is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about human rights.
What is NIYSO and what are its stated goals?