Murdiev's release sparked a wide response among the residents of Chechnya.

The entire republic was concerned about the fate of the teenager from Chechnya, Roman Murdiev, who had previously been convicted for a fight, local residents stated on social media, commenting on the news of his release. They gave Murdiev advice, expressing hope that what he experienced would become a life lesson for him.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the mother of the Chechen teenager Roman (Muslim) Murdiev, who was previously sent to a juvenile correctional facility in the Volgograd region, appealed to Putin and Kadyrov, urging them to ensure the child's safety. According to the mother, she received threats promising revenge for the beaten Nikita Zhuravelya by Adam Kadyrov. The mother's appeal for Murdiev raised many questions among social media users. They expressed surprise at the sudden transfer of the young man and the silence of the head of Chechnya, who promised that the teenager would "not be imprisoned".

Residents of Chechnya welcomed Murdiev's release

A video showing Roman Murdiev hugging his relatives after his release was published on July 14 by the Instagram*-public chp_checchnya. He hugs relatives on the street, then goes into the house and also hugs acquaintances and relatives. The young man is shown surrounded by people who greet him. The video is accompanied by solemn music.

In a second video, also posted on July 14 by the Instagram*-public chp_checchnya, the ombudsman of Chechnya, Mansur Soltaev, is shown. He is talking on the phone with Murdiev. "Today, the release of Muslim Murdiev has become a special joy for all of us," the publication's description states.

Both posts in the Instagram*-public chp_checchnya had gathered 950 comments by 15:00 Moscow time on July 15. Most of the authors expressed joy at Murdiev's release.

"What? What joy! This is Muslim, who had endless trials and who defended the boy? If this is him, we are so happy," wrote 7769.karolina.

"Indeed, after every hardship comes relief," wrote betirovvaa.uu.

"We knew perfectly well that he was not guilty. But it is all the will of Allah, justice has triumphed," emphasized user djama.1971.

Users emphasized that the entire republic was watching Murdiev's fate. "All of Chechnya was worried about Muslim," noted user mikaaaa_72.

"Muslim, you are the pride of Chechnya and the entire Chechen people," declared user bone_porcelain.

"Muslim is the beloved son of the entire Chechen people. We all prayed for his release," wrote user liga_zashity_zhivotnyh.

Commentators wished Murdiev well. "What a pleasant news, I wish you success in this life, may all this remain behind you," wrote m.kuraish.

"May the Almighty reward him for having passed this test with dignity. May all the bad end here and a long and happy life await him ahead," noted lotova.sm.

Some users offered advice. "Don't defend anyone anymore and don't get involved in someone else's fight. Let them beat each other up," stated user goat.5061217.

"They imprisoned the boy unjustly, and he came out as a grown man, and I am sure he understood how this world works during all this time. Muslim, you have matured, do not let what happened spoil you. This is a big lesson for you. Where you need to be firm – be firm. Where you need to be soft – be soft. Value this life and walk the righteous path and do not forget, the end is the same for everyone," wrote khasbulat.isayev.

Ramzan Kadyrov defended Roman Murdiev

In connection with Roman Murdiev's case, the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov in December 2024 during a live broadcast accused the heads of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Investigative Committee – Vladimir Kolokoltsev and Alexander Bastrykin – of incompetence.

"The Murdiev case shows that the people sitting at the top, such as Bastrykin and Kolokoltsev, are not in their places," Kadyrov's words were reported by the news agency "Chechnya Today".

"They will not imprison him, they will do nothing to him," Kadyrov clarified.

In the context of criticizing Kolokoltsev and Bastrykin, the head of Chechnya added that "the Almighty will surely punish them".

The press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, refrained from commenting on Kadyrov's statements regarding the heads of the Investigative Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

The ombudsman of Chechnya, Mansur Soltaev, previously stated that the Investigative Committee, by publishing fragments of videos of fights involving teenagers in Moscow, confirmed that Murdiev participated only in one of them, and the version of his involvement in other fights is based only on assumptions.

According to Soltaev, the investigation did not include complete video recordings in the case and ignored the testimonies of other defendants.

Kadyrov's criticism of the heads of law enforcement agencies is a test of influence, human rights defenders previously noted in interviews with "Caucasian Knot".

"In fact, the head of the Investigative Committee should not react to such minor offenses. This is not even the level of the Investigative Committee. After Kadyrov's criticism, the Investigative Committee quickly gathered all the recordings of fights involving minors and published them, blaming the Chechen teenager in these cases. I repeat, this is not the level of the Investigative Committee," said one of the human rights defenders anonymously to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

It is unlikely that criticism from Kadyrov will directly affect the careers of Kolokoltsev and Bastrykin. The parties will find a way to resolve the public conflict in a non-public manner, noted Alexey Gunya, the chief researcher at the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"All parties are interested in getting the scandal out of the public eye as soon as possible," he explained to a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".