The persecution of an activist from Karachay-Cherkessia followed a fundraising effort for Palestine.

A case has been sent to the Southern District Military Court against Karachay-Cherkess activist and father of five, Rustem Aybazov, accused of financing terrorism for transferring money to a woman in Syria. However, according to his family and friends, the prosecution actually began after large-scale fundraising for humanitarian aid to residents of the Gaza Strip, some of which was seized and subsequently donated to the North Caucasus Military District.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Muslims in the North Caucasus reacted sharply to the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that began in October 2023. You can read about who and how in the North Caucasus Federal District expressed support for Palestine in the "Caucasian Knot" report "Protests in Support of Palestine in the North Caucasus".

The charges are based on the testimony of hidden witnesses

According to the indictment submitted by the Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic for approval on January 12, Rustem Aybazov is accused of financing terrorism (Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the indictment, between July 12 and August 1, 2024, he used the Sberbank Online app to make three transfers to a Sberbank PJSC bank card registered to Movsar Artayev, totaling 5,000 rubles, 7,449 rubles, and 5,000 rubles—a total of 17,449 rubles. The investigation indicates that Aybazov, "carrying out his criminal intent," knew that the transferred funds "would be received and used to support the terrorist activities" of the international terrorist organization Islamic State*.

On April 1, 2025, a criminal case was filed against M.D. Artayev. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Chechen Republic has opened a criminal case under Part 4 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (organizing or directing the financing of terrorism – note from the "Caucasian Knot").

The indictment specifically cites testimony from the recipient of the transfers, Movsar Artayev. The indictment states that Artayev, according to him, began studying the ideology of the Islamic State* in 2020 and then began supporting its members and providing them with financial assistance.

Artayev's testimony indicates that, beginning in the fall of 2023, he corresponded on Telegram with ISIS* members located in Syria (including in Idlib and the Al-Hol camp). In November 2023, he met a woman, a native of Tajikistan, on a messenger app. He claims she and her husband came to Syria in 2014 and joined ISIS*. She asked him for financial assistance. In his statement of the investigation, Artayev also describes how IS* members offered to use the details of Russian banks to transfer funds and asked him to “disseminate the details” of his card, and that, according to the investigation, he then sent the money received on the card to IS* members to “ensure the activities” of the organization (including for the “purchase of weapons, military uniforms, and medicines”).

This same part of the indictment contains the wording that the persons who transferred money to Artayev were “reliably aware” that his bank details were being used for transfers to IS* members, since the details “were known among the members of the IS* international terrorist organization and were distributed by the latter for the financing of terrorism.”

As evidence in the case, the prosecution, in particular, refers to Aybazov’s testimony given during interrogation on September 20, 2025, with the participation of a defense attorney (in the indictment The indictment states that he then admitted guilt), as well as subsequent interrogations on December 11 and 23, 2025, when, as stated in the document, he did not admit guilt.

The indictment also cites the testimony of an FSB operative, who claims to have received "operational information" about Aybazov's involvement in the financing of ISIS* and describes the scheme of contact via Telegram, as well as the testimony of a "hidden witness" named Aliyev, who claims to have overheard a conversation in which Aybazov was referred to as "Abu Hamza" and that transfers and assistance to ISIS* were discussed.

The investigation also cites the identification report for this testimony. In addition, the documents list search and inspection reports of seized devices and storage media, which, according to investigators, contain information about instant messaging accounts under the name "Abu Hamza," as well as the results of an inspection of optical discs and other investigative materials containing data on banking transactions and transfers linked to Aybazov.

The indictment, a copy of which is in the possession of the editorial staff of the "Caucasian Knot," was drawn up in Cherkessk on January 12, 2026, and sent to the Prosecutor of Karachay-Cherkessia. The title page indicates that the indictment was approved by S.N. Bakhnikov, First Deputy Prosecutor of the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic, on January 16, 2026.

On January 21, the case was sent for trial to the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. On February 5, the court registry announced on its official website that a court hearing had been scheduled for February 12, presided over by Judge I.I. Vasilenko.

Relatives link Aybazov's persecution to his charitable activism

At the time of his arrest, Rustem Aybazov was 32 years old. He has a large family, including three of his own children and two adopted children. He had been a private transport driver for many years and lived in Karachay-Cherkessia, a relative of the activist told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The charges against him came as a complete surprise.

"He lived with his wife and five children in the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic." For the past eight years, he had been involved in cargo transportation—driving a Gazelle van, driving the route from Cherkessk to Moscow and back,” the relative said.

Aybazov was detained on September 20, 2025, at his home. Security forces conducted a search and seized equipment, but, according to relatives, they formally acted within the framework of procedural law.

“They conducted a search, seized phones and a laptop. There was no severe violence; everything looked like procedural actions. He himself says there was no outright lawlessness, but the charges brought against him came as a complete surprise,” the relative said.

The investigation into Aybazov’s case has been completed, the indictment has been approved by the prosecutor, and he is being held in a pretrial detention center in Cherkessk and awaiting transfer to Rostov-on-Don, where the case will be heard by a military court.

“The investigation lasted smoothly.” Four months. The prosecutor signed the indictment, and the case was sent to court. He is currently in a pretrial detention center in Cherkessk, awaiting transfer to Rostov. He describes the conditions as normal, and there is no pressure from the administration or security forces. He maintains contact with his family, but has not yet had any visits, as the marriage is not officially registered," a relative said.

According to relatives, "Aybazov denies any evidence."

Aybazov has been charged with financing terrorism, a charge he categorically denies, claiming that the investigation is substituting the formal fact of transferring funds for the concept of intent.

"He doesn't deny the transfers themselves, but he says he did not and could not have had any intent to finance terrorism. He neither recognizes nor supports terrorist organizations. According to him, the investigation is trying to present any transfer as a crime, ignoring the issue of awareness and intent," he said. A relative.

Since 2016, security forces have been interested in him because of his religious practices, statements, and activism.

According to relatives, the attention of law enforcement agencies to Aybazov began long before the current case and was connected to his religious and social activism.

"Since 2016, security forces have been interested in him because of his religious practices, statements, and activism. There were preventive talks, interrogations, and sometimes threats. In 2022, about 13 people were taken from our village. And Rustem and another fellow villager were detained as the main actors in this story. They were their target, and everyone else was just extras, so they would learn a lesson, as they say. They were planted with some kind of modified weapon and persuaded to take it on themselves, promising a suspended sentence. They agreed, and that's what happened; they were given suspended sentences. "3.5 years, which were subsequently reduced and expunged," the relative reported.

Aybazov's position, according to his relatives, is that the charges are based on contradictory and unproven allegations.

"The charges are based on three transfers totaling 17,500 rubles, made in 2024. The investigation cites testimony from the recipient of the funds and a 'hidden witness,' which contradict the facts. Rustem also points out that the initial 'confession' was given under pressure and with the participation of an appointed lawyer, and that he later officially retracted this testimony. His motions to question witnesses and conduct confrontations were denied," the relative reported.

Despite this, Aybazov's case has been sent to court. "He considers what is happening arbitrary and is confident that his case is exemplary. Nevertheless, he states that he does not intend to back down from his position," the relative added. relative.

Activists point to the role of spiritual structures in Aybazov's case

Activists who collaborated with Aybazov believe that the stance of the region's spiritual structures, which refused to publicly support his activities, played a significant role in his persecution.

"He repeatedly appealed to the republic's spiritual administration to confirm the legality of his charitable collections and publicly support them. He also appealed to the regional authorities. There was no support. Moreover, they directly told him that he needed to 'bow to the mufti' to receive approval. He refused, and after that, the pressure only intensified," said an activist who worked with Aybazov, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to his associates, Aybazov's active charitable work began in Ramadan 2025 and focused on raising funds for residents of the Gaza Strip.

Chechen authorities have banned aid collection for Palestine

"Gaza donations began in Ramadan 2025. The work was carried out openly, through a registered charitable foundation, with reports and weekly conversions of funds. The amounts grew rapidly—from several million per week to tens of millions. In total, according to rough estimates, about 400 million rubles were collected in six months. It was this large-scale activity that attracted the attention of security officials; he was repeatedly summoned for questioning and asked about the transfer mechanism and the foundation," the volunteer said.

A separate episode in the case concerns the last large sum, which, according to sources, was confiscated from an imam and subsequently sent not to Gaza, but to the needs of the SVO.

"About 15.7 Millions of rubles were left for safekeeping with one of the imams. After his arrest, the money was confiscated. The imam was then formally returned the funds, but under severe pressure, he was forced to immediately "donate" them to the SVO. On paper, this was presented as a voluntary decision of a private individual, without mentioning that the money was being collected to help Gaza," the activist concluded.

According to another Karachay activist, who currently lives outside the region, Aybazov's charitable work was widespread, and the events surrounding the case were accompanied by pressure from religious and security forces.

"They collected a lot of money. They weren't allowed to put donation boxes in mosques. The mufti said outright at a meeting of the muftiate that "it will be closed in two weeks." All the reports on the collections are available—about 400 million rubles were sent to Gaza.

The FSB accuses him of "In 2023, a girl from Syria allegedly called him and asked for help. He was helping women whose husbands were in prison. She asked him to transfer money to a Russian number, and he did. At the same time, he was pressured to "calm down" with the Gaza issue. Ultimately, he was accused of allegedly sending money not to the girl, but to extremists. They found a hidden witness who claims he was called Abu Hamza back in 2023, although in fact he only began using this name in 2024," the activist told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He also notes that after the story of Aybazov's arrest and "sending the money raised for Gaza aid to the North Caucasus Military District," the muftiate announced "the opening of its own charitable foundation."

"The last collection they held—about 15.7 million rubles—was confiscated, and the imam was forced to "Voluntarily hand over" this money to be sent to the SVO, even though people donated funds for Gaza. It is noteworthy that less than a week after the confiscation of this money, on November 12, 2025, the mufti announced the opening of a charitable foundation. Immediately after, two groups from the SVO appeared, thanking the mufti for his help and support. All videos were published on the muftiate's Telegram channel on December 3 and 4, 2025. We cannot say for sure, but there is reason to believe that this is the very money that was collected for Gaza and was ultimately sent to the SVO," the source stated.

The Muftiate of Karachay-Cherkessia ignored the events in Gaza throughout this entire period, the activist claims.

"Not a single official statement, not a single word of support, not a single publicly confirmed attempt to provide assistance. Against this backdrop, ordinary Muslims, without the participation of the muftiate, organized a large-scale fundraising campaign for the residents of Gaza. The collections "The campaign was conducted openly: donation boxes were placed in stores, at intersections, and in crowded places, and an active campaign was conducted on social media. Crucially, these boxes were not available in the mosques of Karachay-Cherkessia. When an attempt was made to install a donation box in the suburbs of Cherkessk, the qadi of the muftiate personally forbade the imam from doing so. This ban was not religious, but openly repressive in nature," the source said.

Local residents link the persecution of Aybazov to the collections for Gaza

"In August 2025, summons and interrogations of those participating in the collections began. And already on September 3, 2025, at the muftiate meeting of imams of the Prikubansky district, the mufti publicly engaged in deliberate slander, stating that Abu-Hamza (Rustam Aybazov) and his associates allegedly purchased expensive cars using "money raised to aid Gaza (the message published on the Telegram channel of the Muftiate of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic on September 3, 2025, does not mention Aybazov's activities – ed. note from the "Caucasian Knot"). This statement was made without a single shred of evidence, was a blatant smear, and was aimed at creating an image of the "guilty" person in advance, even before the arrest. It was absolutely clear to the imams present that this was not a matter of transparency or accountability. Everyone understood that a cloud was already hanging over Abu Hamza, that the scenario had been set in motion, and that things were heading toward his isolation," the man says.

He was persistently urged to leave the country. Everyone around him understood that they were preparing to arrest him.

Representatives of the Muslim community claim that Aybazov deliberately refused to leave the country, despite warnings. "He was persistently urged to leave the country. Everyone around him understood that they were preparing to arrest him. Abu Hamza deliberately refused to leave, fully aware that he would be locked up, but unwilling to flee and admit to something he hadn't done. On September 20, 2025, mass arrests of all key participants in the fundraising for the residents of Gaza were carried out. "They detained absolutely everyone, then released everyone except Aybazov," the source concluded. A content analysis of the DUM KCR's Telegram channel for the search query "Gaza" yields a single mention in a repost of a publication by regional head Rashid Temrezov from October 29, 2023, in which he calls on local residents not to succumb to provocations and to maintain interethnic peace and tranquility in the region despite "the deaths of innocent people in the Gaza Strip." In contrast, a request from "SVO" yielded 15 publications on the Telegram channel of the DUM KCR.

According to a regional government representative familiar with the situation, the events "on the whole unfolded predictably"—following a pattern of strict control and suppression of any public activity not sanctioned "from above."

"It was clear that despite their high level of activity and rapid expansion, they lacked their own formal structure—they didn't have their own foundation; their work was conducted through a third-party organization in Dagestan. They deployed a wide network of activists: they collected funds on the roads and set up boxes in stores. Over the course of several months, according to available information, significant sums were collected—hundreds of millions of rubles. After the arrests, as far as I know, about 15 million rubles were confiscated from one of the imams. "I don't know the further movement of these funds," a source told the Caucasian Knot on condition of anonymity.

The Caucasian Knot sent an official request to the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, asking for comment on reports about the possible redirection of funds seized from one of the imams, intended for the blockade of Gaza, to the needs of participants in the North Caucasus Military District.

* A terrorist organization banned in Russia.

** Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.