Commentators supported Bzhinava against the backdrop of the criminal case due to publications about Basayev.
The criminal case against the Abkhaz lawyer Irakli Bzhinava due to publications about Shamil Basayev is unfounded. Bzhinava is a decent person and a patriot of Abkhazia, stated some social media users. Other commentators reminded that Basayev organized terrorist attacks in Budyonnovsk, Moscow, and Beslan, and demanded not to justify him.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 16, it became known that a criminal case was initiated against the arrested Abkhaz lawyer Irakli Bzhinava in Rostov-on-Don for public justification of terrorism. The reason for the new prosecution was publications about Shamil Basayev.
Shamil Basayev was a field commander during the First Chechen War and the leader of the storming of Grozny (August 1996), organizer of terrorist attacks and hostage-taking in Budyonnovsk, Stavropol Krai (1995), the theater center on Dubrovka in Moscow (2002), the school in Beslan (2004, North Ossetia), and the leader of the militants' invasion into Dagestan (1999), which initiated the Second Chechen War, as well as the attack on Nalchik (October 2005, Kabardino-Balkaria). He was killed on July 10, 2006. Since August 1992, he actively participated in military actions in Abkhazia. He was the commander of the Gagra front and the deputy defense minister of Abkhazia. He commanded a unit of Chechen volunteers, as stated in the biographical reference about Shamil Basayev, prepared by "Caucasian Knot".
On the "Caucasian Knot" Facebook page*, which has about 165,000 users, two posts were published about the law enforcement agencies initiating a criminal case against the arrested Abkhaz lawyer Irakli Bzhinava in Rostov-on-Don. Both publications had a total of 134 comments as of 15:20 MSK on September 19.
Commentators sided with Bzhinava. "Irakli should be released, undoubtedly, he is a competent lawyer and would never say anything illegal. He is a patriot of Abkhazia," stated Mariana Ivanovna.
"Irakli, the people of Abkhazia are with you. We will achieve your freedom," wrote Lika Gogua.
Other participants in the discussion emphasized that in Abkhazia, Basayev is remembered for his participation in the 1992-1993 war and his title of Hero of Abkhazia. "He became a Hero of Abkhazia before Budyonnovsk and Beslan. What happened to him afterward, Abkhazia has nothing to do with it. At the most difficult moment in history, when the people faced the threat of complete extinction, he, along with other heroes, came to defend Abkhazia, how can we forget that? Of course, none of us condones terrorism, but the fact is that he is a Hero of Abkhazia," noted Cecilia Cicba.
"<…> Why ask us what we feel about him, we will never forget who brought us freedom," stated Nugzar Delba.
Opponents reminded of the terrorist attacks organized by Basayev and rejected attempts to justify his actions. "Basayev is a terrorist. He is responsible for the school in Beslan. He dressed all of Ossetia in black in 2004. Does anyone justify this?" asked Madona Kumaritova.
"About the terrorist and enemy of the Chechen and Russian peoples, the devil Basayev – that would be more correct," wrote Sergey Rubtsov.
On February 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia reported that it is monitoring the situation with the detention of Irakli Bzhinava and offered him and his family consular and legal support. On February 16, the Lenin District Court of Rostov-on-Don arrested Bzhinava for two months. According to law enforcement agencies, he was charged with anti-Russian statements and attempts to incite interethnic hatred on the internet.
The personality of Basayev periodically causes disagreements between Moscow and Sukhum
In September 2024, the Russian embassy in Sukhum expressed outrage that a portrait of Shamil Basayev was displayed in the State Museum of Abkhazia with the caption "Hero of Abkhazia". The museum administration promised to rectify the situation, but did not remove the portrait, instead closing access to the exhibition for visitors.
In October 2024, the human rights commissioner in North Ossetia, Tamertlan Dzgoev, called for Basayev to be stripped of state awards and titles of Abkhazia. Museum staff stated that they would remove his portrait only after a court decision or the deprivation of Basayev's title of Hero of Abkhazia.
On October 17, 2024, the administration of the State Museum of Abkhazia removed from the archive photographs of five Heroes of Abkhazia, including Basayev, at the request of the Minister of Defense of Abkhazia, Vladimir Anua.