Moscow court to hear case against Armenian blogger accused of ethnic incitement

The Moscow Prosecutor’s Office has officially approved the charges in the high-profile criminal case against Armenian blogger Areg Shchepikhin, who faces multiple accusations including incitement to extremism, offending religious sentiments, and promoting ethnic hatred.

The blogger is currently under arrest, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The case stems from several videos posted by Shchepikhin, including one recorded at Moscow’s Yaroslavsky railway station, where he made inflammatory and offensive remarks targeting Chechen and Dagestani communities. His statements drew widespread condemnation and triggered a criminal investigation.

In a video, he said: “By the way, I insulted Dagestan just like I did Chechens, and Khabib Nurmagomedov — his family, his children, his parents, all of them. So don’t have any doubts. Right now, it’s pointless to try and do or say anything against me.”

Shchepikhin presents himself publicly as a business mentor, a specialist in the Chinese market, and claims to possess 18 different professional competencies, branding himself as “the world’s No. 1 visionary.”

Shchepikhin was filmed being forced into an SUV on June 3 by men believed to be ethnic Chechens, a day after he posted an expletive-laden Instagram video criticizing Chechens and Islam. Chechen authorities claimed he had not been abducted but “detained by law enforcement officers.”

He was released later that night, only to be arrested by the police on charges of offending religious beliefs and inciting extremism. His alleged abductors were charged with kidnapping and abuse of office but have reportedly avoided arrest, with their whereabouts remaining unknown.

On June 26, the Moscow City Court rejected Shchepikhin’s appeal against pre-trial detention. He reportedly expressed “deep regret” for his online comments and apologized “to all Russian citizens, especially residents of the Caucasus.”

Chechen authorities stated that the operation was carried out in accordance with Russian law. The Interior Ministry subsequently reported the detention of six individuals involved in the incident. Investigators have opened a criminal case on charges of kidnapping and abuse of power.

The Prosecutor’s Office has since forwarded Shchepikhin’s case to the Presnensky District Court of Moscow, where he faces the following charges:

Public acts expressing clear disrespect for society and committed with the intent to offend the religious feelings of believers (Article 148, Part 1 of the Russian Criminal Code);

Public calls for extremist activity (Article 280, Part 2);

Actions aimed at inciting hatred or enmity, and at humiliating the dignity of a group of people based on nationality or religion (Article 282, Part 2).

The case is expected to draw significant public attention due to its ethnic and political sensitivities.

By Vafa Guliyeva