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21 Jul 2026
Circassian Journalist Larisa Tuptsokova Publicly Responds to Extremism Accusations
Лариса Тупцокова, фото: Кавказский Узел
Background and Accusation
Larisa Tuptsokova is a journalist, translator and teacher of the Circassian language who is based in Georgia. On September 24, 2024, she announced that Russian authorities had opened a criminal case against her under Article 282.2, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code, which concerns participation in an extremist organisation. A notice of the charges was delivered to her parents’ home in Maykop. She was not informed of any details regarding the accusations.
Tuptsokova suggested that she was being prosecuted under extremism legislation because of her involvement with the independent project Circassian Media, which covers political developments in the region as well as issues related to preserving the history, culture and language of the Circassian people.
In October 2025, scholars, artists and journalists signed a public appeal in support of Tuptsokova. Those supporters subsequently came under pressure from law enforcement authorities. In November, activists filed complaints with the Prosecutor’s Office of Kabardino-Balkaria regarding the alleged harassment.
Larisa Tuptsokova’s response
Recently, Larisa posted on her Facebook that, after several months of waiting, she has finally been able to review the case files in the criminal proceedings opened against her.
"Their contents confirmed what I have said from the very beginning: the case against me has been fabricated," she wrote, adding that she considered it necessary to publicly respond to the claims contained in the case materials.
Tuptsokova stated that the charges against her are based on her professional activities rather than on any specific unlawful acts. According to the case materials, investigators cite her academic work, participation in international conferences, work at the Circassian Cultural Center and involvement with the independent media project Circassian Media.
She says the formal indictment contains numerous factual errors and unsupported assertions:
- Investigators claim that Tuptsokova is the author of Circassian Media, which is false. The creator and author of Circassian Media is Aidamir Kazanokov, and this information has always been publicly available.
- The indictment alleges that Circassian Media was used to disseminate “calls for unauthorised public events and other unlawful actions”.
At the same time, the indictment:
- Provides no links to any specific articles, interviews or broadcasts allegedly containing such calls;
- Includes no quotations;
- Does not indicate whether any expert analysis of the materials was conducted;
- Presents no evidence supporting these conclusions.
Tuptsokova emphasises that Circassian Media is an open information and analytical project whose materials are freely accessible and can be independently verified.
She also points to other inaccuracies in the case materials:
- The Circassian Cultural Center in Tbilisi, which until recently operated as a subdivision of Georgia’s Ministry of Culture, is described as a foreign non-governmental organisation. She is also claimed to have a position at the center that she says she never held;
- The indictment claims she continues to work at the cultural center, although she resigned in 2024;
- It contains inaccurate information about her family and other aspects of her biography;
- Investigators allege that her academic presentations included calls for the creation of an independent state and for organising illegal public demonstrations. Tuptsokova denies ever making such statements.
“The case materials do not specify which presentations are being referred to, nor do they include the texts of those presentations, quotations, publications or the results of any expert analyses that would support such claims,” she said.
Tuptsokova has prepared written objections to the case materials and submitted them, together with supporting documents, to her lawyer. The same materials will also be sent to human rights organisations.
Under Pressure for Speaking Out
Over the past several months, many people have publicly expressed support for Tuptsokova. She said that some of those supporters subsequently faced pressure and thanked everyone who chose to speak out: "Representatives of Circassian organisations, public figures, members of the academic and cultural communities—both in our homeland and in countries around the world—have spoken in my defense. My friends and acquaintances as well. Their support means a lot to me."
Tuptsokova concluded: “Despite everything that is happening, I will continue to devote myself to the work that has occupied a significant part of my life: preserving and developing the Circassian language and culture.”
