23:11, 20 June 2023

Decision to liquidate CEBP upheld

Memorial to victims of repression in Nalchik. Photo: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Мемориал_жертвам_репрессий_балкарского_народа

The court of appeal in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) has refused to satisfy the appeal complaint against the decision to liquidate the Council of Elders of the Balkar People (CEBP).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the decision to liquidate the CEBP was groundless, since the Council acted in line with its charter, the Council members stated in March this year, promising to appeal against the liquidation decision.

On March 9, 2023, the Nalchik City Court liquidated the CEBP, deciding that it had failed to hold congresses in accordance with the charter and failed to keep records of its activities. The court also recognized the statement of its chairman, Ismail Sabanchiev, posted in the newspaper "Vestnik of the Balkar People" in February 2022 as a call for extremism.

According to Council members, the main reason for the liquidation of the CEBP was in their appeal to Russia's leadership about the formation of a new subject of Russia – the Republic of Balkaria. The court saw in this appeal a sign of extremist activity: a forcible change in the foundations of the constitutional order.

Let us remind you that in May 2010, the KBR's Supreme Court (SC), acting at the lawsuit of the Prosecutor's Office, also ruled to liquidate the CEBP, treating its activities as extremism. In July of the same year, the Russia's SC overturned that ruling.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 19, 2023 at 01:33 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: СK correspondent