05/01/2026
“📌 This was our greatest experience in the field of international relations and law, where two EU candidate countries — Ukraine and Moldova — as well as Norway, with the active participation of us, Georgians and Chechens, firmly confronted the Russian empire on the legal front.
On the scales were the life of Muhammad Aslan, the reputation of Norway, Ukraine, and Moldova,
my personal reputation, and the resilience of the Caucasus Legion.
How everything unfolded in detail, at the very center of events in which I was personally involved:
🔹 40 days ago, while we were heading to Moldova for a working meeting together with my deputy, Muhammad Aslan, he was detained at the Moldovan border due to an Interpol Red Notice — naturally, at Russia’s request.
Despite a planned informal working meeting with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, constitutional procedures and the law were applied at the state border: Aslan was transferred to a Chișinău detention facility, and mandatory legal procedures were initiated.
🔹 After several days, detention was replaced with house arrest — the first small victory in this case. He awaited the final decision in a private apartment in Chișinău, and exactly 39 days later, the case reached its just culmination — Russia lost this extremely important case.
(Muhammad Aslan had been accused by the Russian FSB of fabricated crimes — allegedly eliminating dozens of agents and creating armed formations in Ichkeria during the Second Chechen War; previously, the European Court had fully acquitted him.)
🔹 Through this decision, Moldova demonstrated that internationally recognized human rights do work, and that Russian influence under President Sandu’s leadership is gradually diminishing.
On the first day of detention:
🔹 I met with President Maia Sandu and, in addition to congratulating her on the victory over pro-Russian forces in the elections, informed her about the detention of Muhammad Aslan (also known as Adam Fredriksen), as well as about the broader issues faced by fighters of the Caucasus Legion — unauthorized and unjust persecution through Interpol, which has effectively come under Russian influence.
🔹 On the second day, I was at the Embassy of Ukraine as the commander of a combat unit within the Armed Forces of Ukraine — the Caucasus Legion — and informed the consul about the situation. The Embassy of Ukraine promptly took all necessary measures — my sincere gratitude to them.
🔹 On the third day, given that Muhammad Aslan has been a Norwegian citizen since 2019, I contacted the Embassy of Norway and officially informed them of the detention of their citizen. They did not hesitate and quickly joined the process — thank you to them.
🔹 On the fourth day, I contacted the European Office in Chișinău and explained that people fighting in Ukraine are defending Europe’s security, and that Moldova, as an EU candidate country, should not meet such people “in handcuffs,” but rather assist them with its expertise to ensure effective and rapid interaction with Interpol.
🔹 Considering that Moldova has long been on a European path and that it is difficult to completely eliminate Russian influence in a short time, all processes unfolded quite swiftly. Moldova demonstrated state resilience in the face of the occupying state of Russia by releasing Muhammad Aslan and categorically refusing Russia’s extradition request.
🔹 Unfortunately, our stay in Moldova was dangerous to our lives, as Russian agents and the Russian embassy are still present in the country, and part of its territory remains occupied. For this reason, we refrained from publicity until everything concluded successfully.
🔹 On New Year’s Day, December 31, at the Moldovan–Ukrainian border, our worthy fighter was handed over to the Ukrainian side by the Ukrainian consul and the military attaché of Ukraine in Moldova.
🔹 This was our shared victory over Russian influence.
🔹 I would like to sincerely thank Ms. Maia Sandu, who continues to fight Russian influence in Moldova today and spares no effort in uniting the country and moving it along the European path.
She has achieved very significant and impressive results, though not final ones — until Moldova restores constitutional order throughout its entire territory, since the occupied Tiraspol has effectively turned into a hub of terrorism and smuggling, harming and slowing Moldova’s overall development.
🔹 I believe that Ms. Maia Sandu, together with the Moldovan people, will be able to achieve this in the near future.
🔹 For me, an exceptionally impressive and deeply political experience was my personal conversation with her — a conversation with a president who is among the best European leaders.
🔹 I would like to thank Moldovan patriots and journalists: Ms. Viorica, Mr. Andrii, volunteers Avrelios and Arslan, who stood by us, as well as lawyer Mr. Roman — for their correct understanding of the situation, and everyone in Moldova who took the right side.
🔹 I would like to thank the Ukrainian side: the 9th Separate Brigade, Ukraine’s special services, the Embassy of Ukraine in Moldova, the military attaché, the Caucasus Union, the Prime Minister of Ichkeria Akhmed Zakayev, and every individual who personally stayed in touch and cared about this case.
🔹 I thank my deputy Muhammad Aslan for his endurance — he endured the most, yet despite everything, gave all of us the opportunity to calmly and successfully conclude this complex case.
🔹 This case gave us tremendous experience in jointly resisting Russian influence in EU countries and candidate states.
🔹 Previously, there was the high-profile case of Georgiy Kinoyan, in which we — personally myself and Mikhail Baturin — made significant efforts to secure his release in the Republic of Armenia. Negotiations were conducted at the highest leadership level of Armenia, but this involvement was not made public — evidently, this was deemed necessary at the time. More on this later…
🔹 I hope that very soon we will be able to hold a personal meeting with Interpol leadership to discuss such issues, because today their offices are not being bombed by Russian drones only thanks to the people fighting in Ukraine — and they must hear us.
War is not a crime, and Interpol must not pursue combatants at Russia’s request when they are protected by UN law and internationally recognized human rights.
In 2026, I wish everyone peace and personal freedom!
📸 The photo shows the Ukrainian–Moldovan border, December 31, 2025.
This is how — free — we entered 2026!
Lado Gamsakhurdia
Commander of the Special Unit Caucasus Legion”
9th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade
