The Leninsky District Court in Rostov-on-Don has ordered the detention of Mufti Akhmed Abusupyanov, who acted as a negotiator during the June 2024 hostage crisis at Rostov's Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 1. This information comes from regional court officials as reported by 161.RU.
Abusupyanov will remain in custody until July 28 while facing charges under two criminal statutes: hooliganism (Article 213, Part 2 of the Criminal Code) and involvement with an extremist organization (Article 282.2, Part 2). The religious leader has denied any extremist ties and requested legal representation, according to 161.RU's coverage.
Authorities first detained Abusupyanov in May following FSB allegations that he led a Muslim religious group affiliated with an international organization banned in Russia for extremism. Security services accused him of promoting religious intolerance against both non-Muslims and followers of different Islamic traditions, while also instigating conflicts with mainstream Muslim leaders.
Kommersant sources allege the mufti had connections with the prohibited group "At-Takfir wal-Hijra" and participated in a September 2023 assault against another Muslim over theological disputes.
During the June 16 prison uprising when inmates seized hostages, Abusupyanov attempted to mediate their surrender and secure the hostages' release, though his efforts proved unsuccessful. The standoff ended with security forces neutralizing the attackers.