The FSB showed footage of the detention of AUE members* operating in Nizhny Novgorod.

      On March 20, 2026, at 11:37, Incidents In the Nizhny Novgorod region, FSB officers, together with the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the support of the Rosgvardiya SOBR, suppressed the activities of an ethnic group linked to a banned extremist organization in Russia (as indicated by the video, it concerns AUE*).

      According to the press service of the regional FSB, the group members denied the current legislation of the country, spread the ideology of the banned structure, and involved their surroundings in it.

      Moreover, the criminals extorted large sums from entrepreneurs. They used violence, as well as cold and firearms, and employed psychological pressure methods. A total of 7 people were detained.

      Criminal proceedings have been initiated against two alleged leaders under part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The Moscow district court sent them to a pre-trial detention center. Two more were detained under article 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. In the near future, the investigation is expected to make procedural decisions regarding them.

      The other three have been held administratively liable under part 1.1 of article 18.8 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation. They have been placed in a temporary detention center for foreign citizens under the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      Law enforcement agencies are identifying all possible participants of the group and checking their involvement in other episodes of illegal activities.

      Earlier, it was reported that a resident of Nizhny Novgorod was sentenced to 8 years for extremism, robbery, and extortion.

      *The movement is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation.

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