Court sentences Malik Gandaloev to 20 years in jail

Malik Gandaloev, a native of Ingushetia, whom investigators treat as one of hostage-takers at the Rostov SIZO (pre-trial prison), has been sentenced to 20 years of freedom deprivation on charges of involvement in the "Islamic State" (IS)* and manufacturing explosives.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in March 2023, Ingush law enforcers put three students on the wanted list, including Malik Gandaloev, who was accused of manufacturing and storing explosives and taking part in the activities of a terrorist organization.

Gandaloev became the second convict in the case of hostage taking at the Rostov-on-Don SIZO. On June 16, the inmates took two SIZO staff hostage. They identified themselves as IS* members and demanded a car, weapons and the opportunity to leave the SIZO. Law enforcers undertook an assault, the hostage takers were killed, and the hostages were released.

According to the Southern District Military Court, in 2023, in Astrakhan, Gandaloev and two other people entered into a conspiracy “to take part in the IS*, a banned terrorist organization. Gandaloev also made a homemade explosive device, which was confiscated during the detention, as indicated in the Court’s Telegram channel.

Let us recall that in March 2023, Ingush law enforcers put three students on the wanted list: natives of Ingushetia, Malik and Ramazan Gandaloev, and native of Dagestan, Arsen Gammadov. According to sources, a “farewell” letter of a religious extremist nature was found in the apartment rented by the students.

*On December 29, 2014, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the organization "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL or IS) as a terrorist international organization and banned its activities in Russia.