Khokonov considered the reversal of the court's decision to reinstate him to work unlawful.

The Judicial Collegium of the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria overturned the Nalchik City Court's decision to reinstate Professor Murat Khokonov as department head at KBSU. This decision contradicts three previous court verdicts, Khokonov stated, adding that he intends to seek justice.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on February 6, 2025, the Nalchik City Court ruled illegal the professor's dismissal from KBSU and immediately reinstated him to his previous position as department head.

The Judicial Collegium of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic reviewed the appeal and overturned the decision of the Nalchik City Court, which ordered the university to reinstate Khokonov and pay him his salary, the Memorial Human Rights Center reported*.

In its appeal, the prosecutor's office stated that Khokonov had not challenged the decision to revoke his security clearance, and the court lacked legal grounds to consider issues related to Khokonov's security clearance. The prosecutor's office also found that the trial court should not have considered the procedure for reinstating Murat Khokonov to his previous position, as he had not challenged the procedure for his reinstatement. In its complaint, the prosecutor's office stated that Khokonov's dismissal complied with legal requirements: since the decision terminating Khokonov's security clearance was in effect, the university had no legal basis to renew his clearance. Accordingly, he could not be allowed to actually perform his duties requiring security clearance. Given this circumstance, Khokonov was justifiably suspended. Kabardino-Balkarian State University also filed an appeal, noting that the court's decision of May 22, 2024, had been enforced: Khokonov was reinstated in his previous position, with compensation for the time of forced absence. However, by order of May 28, 2024, Khokonov was suspended due to lack of security clearance. Khokonov could not be allowed to actually perform his duties as head of the Department of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, which requires security clearance. He refused the vacant positions offered to him, to which he could have been transferred based on his qualifications and health, the university stated.

The legality and validity of the orders issued by the university were reviewed by the State Labor Inspectorate of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the Investigative Committee of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, and the Nalchik Prosecutor's Office, and they found no violations.

On December 18, 2025, the Judicial Collegium for Civil Cases of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic considered the case of Murat Khokonov's claim against Kabardino-Balkarian State University for recognizing the order of dismissal and reinstatement as illegal, as well as the appeal of the Kabardino-Balkarian State University and the prosecutor's appeal against the decision of the Nalchik City Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic dated February 6, 2025, and concluded that the court of first instance had committed violations.

Thus, according to paragraph 10, part 1, article 83, of the Labor Code, an employment contract is terminated due to a circumstance beyond the control of the employee. At the discretion of the parties, such as termination of security clearance for state secrets, if the work performed requires it. Termination of an employment contract is permitted if it is impossible to transfer the employee, with their written consent, to another job available with the employer. According to the Law "On State Secrets," security clearance for an official or citizen to state secrets may be terminated by decision of the head of a government agency, enterprise, etc. The court ruled that in the event of a single violation of his employment contractual obligations related to the protection of state secrets, the court declared.

The decision stated that the trial court unreasonably engaged in a discussion of his security clearance. Ultimately, the Judicial Panel overturned the decision, which required the university to reinstate Murat Khokonov and pay him his salary.

Time will undoubtedly provide a legal assessment of the Judicial Panel's decision, regardless of whether we appeal to the cassation courts.

Murat Khokonov called the decision unlawful. "The decision of the panel chaired by M.M. Bizhoeva also contradicts the decision of the Judicial Panel for Administrative Cases of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic dated August 22, 2025, which established the fact of non-compliance with the decision of the city court dated February 6, 2025, and the writ of execution, and my actual non-admission to work. Thus, the decision of the panel for civil cases of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic dated December 18, 2025 contradicts three already issued judicial acts of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic: dated July 16, 2024, August 22, 2025, and the decision on my reinstatement dated May 22, 2024). The university did not appeal the decision of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic on my reinstatement, which means it agreed with this decision," his words are quoted in the publication.

He noted that the rector of KBSU is obliged to reinstate him in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic dated On May 22, 2024, Khokonov will seek enforcement of this decision. However, Khokonov did not specify whether he would file a cassation appeal. "Time will certainly provide a legal assessment of this decision by the judicial panel, regardless of whether we appeal to the cassation courts," he stated.

As a reminder, in April 2025, Khokonov appealed the decision to terminate enforcement proceedings in his lawsuit against the university, as he was still not permitted to work. On August 22, 2025, the Judicial Collegium of the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria ruled that the bailiff should not have completed the proceedings to reinstate Professor Murat Khokonov until there is evidence that he has actually resumed work at the university.

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