Former Chechen police officer Yasin Khalidov is a political prisoner

He was detained while trying to leave Russia and taken to Chechnya for passing information about the Chechen security services to human rights activists.

The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Yasin Khalidov a political prisoner. He is being persecuted for publicising crimes of the Chechen security services. We believe that the prosecution of Khalidov violates his right to fair trial.

We demand the immediate release of Yasin Khalidov and an end to his criminal prosecution.

Who is Yasin Khalidov and what is the case against him?

Yasin Khalidov is a young Chechen from the town of Shela, who was given a local police job through his relatives when he was only 17 years old. In May 2022, he was transferred to the transport department of the Russian National Guard in Chechnya.

As a police and a National Guard officer, Khalidov was involved in fabricating criminal evidence on the instructions of a local centre for countering extremism. Khalidov repeatedly tried to resign from the service but was refused.

In September 2022, Khalidov was sent to war in Ukraine where he spent four months. He also tried to resign there but was not allowed to. Instead, he was beaten and held captive for more than a week without anything to eat or drink except for bread and water.

Upon his return to Chechnya in late January 2023, after another attempt to quit, he was locked up at a local National Guard base, where he was threatened with prosecution under a terrorism-related article.

In March 2023, Khalidov managed to escape from Chechnya and tried to seek help from admins of the Telegram channel Adat, Ibragim and Baysangur Yangulbaev. He gave them information about crimes committed by the Chechen security services in exchange for helping him cross the Russian border.

The Yangulbaevs decided not to help Khalidov, considering him an accomplice to the crimes, but posted the received information on their Telegram channel.

On 20 May 2023, when trying to cross the border with Kazakhstan, Khalidov was detained. According to the prosecution materials, Khalidov intended to leave Russia to take part in the war on the side of Ukraine.

After detention, Khalidov was sent to Chechnya. Since then, nothing is known about his whereabouts or the charges against him.

Why do we consider Yasin Khalidov a political prisoner?

We believe that Yasin Khalidov has been kidnapped by the Chechen security services for criticising the regime of Ramzan Kadyrov established in Chechnya with the connivance of the Moscow authorities.

He is being persecuted for publicising the crimes of the Chechen security services, trying to resign from the service and leave Russia.

The Kadyrov regime is persecuting Khalidov as a ‘traitor’. His life is in danger (if he is still alive).

Further information about this case and the position of the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project is available on our website.

Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with or approves of their views, statements, or actions.

How can you help?

If you know anything about the whereabouts of Yasin Khalidov, please let us know at [email protected].