A resident of Makhachkala is suspected of insulting the religious feelings of believers.

The investigative department of Makhachkala has initiated a criminal case against a local resident for comments and video materials online that, according to investigators, insulted the religious feelings of believers.

According to the investigation, from 2023 to 2025, the suspect posted comments and video materials in various group chats that contained statements showing clear disrespect for society and insulting the religious feelings of believers.

The posted materials were publicly accessible and could be viewed by many users on the internet, the Investigative Committee of Dagestan informs on its Telegram channel.

The investigative department for the Lenin district of Makhachkala has initiated a criminal case based on public actions expressing clear disrespect for society and committed with the aim of insulting the religious feelings of believers. The article provides for imprisonment of up to one year.

"Currently, investigative and procedural actions are being carried out to establish all the circumstances of the incident," the agency's message states.

The Investigative Committee does not disclose the name of the suspect, nor does the agency specify what kind of comments and video materials the resident of Makhachkala published.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in October 2025, a court in Moscow sentenced blogger Areg Shchepikhin to five years in a penal colony for extremism and insulting the feelings of believers after being kidnapped by Chechen security forces at a train station in Moscow. The blogger called for convincing the Russian authorities to expel Muslims "to the Caucasus" and "Jews" from Russia, claiming that "the people chose the path of Christianity."