Russia designates Ingush Batal Hajji Brotherhood as terrorist organization over alleged involvement in Crocus City Hall attack
Russia’s Supreme Court has designated the Community of Followers of Batal-Hajji Belkhoroev (an unregistered international organization, also known as Batal Hajji Brotherhood) as a terrorist organization, the court’s press service reports . “The highest judicial level ruled that the nature of the crimes committed by members of the movement constitutes grounds for banning its activities on the…
On October 14, 2024, Russia's Supreme Court designated the Community of Followers of Batal-Hajji Belkhoroev, also known as the Batal Hajji Brotherhood, as a terrorist organization. The court stated that the nature of the crimes committed by the group's members justified banning its activities within Russian territory. The Federal Security Service (FSB) released a statement on the same day, accusing the Brotherhood of involvement in the Crocus City Hall attack, which occurred five days after Russia's 2024 presidential election.
According to the FSB, the Brotherhood provided automatic weapons and ammunition to the terrorists responsible for the attack, resulting in 147 deaths and over 300 injuries. Additionally, the FSB alleged that the Brotherhood was involved in other criminal acts, including the assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov and support for terrorist organizations in Ukraine, such as the Islamic State and the Caucasus Emirate.
The Batal Hajji Brotherhood is a religious community in Ingushetia founded by Batal-Hajji Belkhoroev, who lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The group was previously added to Russia's list of terrorist organizations in February 2023.
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