European 'neo-Nazi' leader extradited to US from Moldova over plot to poison Jewish kids
'Commander Butcher' Michail Chkhikvishvili
The United States has extradited from Moldova the leader of an "an eastern European neo-Nazi group" for allegedly instructing an undercover US federal agent to dress as "Santa Claus" and hand out poisoned candy to Jewish children and racial minorities.
Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 21-year-old from the Republic of Georgia, was arraigned Friday before a federal judge in New York's Brooklyn on multiple felonies, including soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence.
Chkhikvishvili pleaded not guilty through an attorney, Samuel Gregory. The lawyer requested that his client receive a psychiatric evaluation, and be placed on suicide watch while in custody.
"The case is a stark reminder of the kind of terrorism we face today: online networks plotting unspeakable acts of violence against children, families, and the Jewish community in pursuit of a depraved, extremist ideology," US attorney general Pam Bondi said in a statement, according to news agency AP.
Chkhikvishvili leads 'Maniac Murder Cult': Prosecutors
Prosecutors described the Georgian national, who also goes by 'Commander Butcher,' as the leader of the "Maniac Murder Cult," an international extremist group. The Maniac Murder Cult adheres to a 'neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology and promotes violence and violent acts against racial minorities, the Jewish community and other groups it deems 'undesirables.''
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They alleged that the group's violent solicitations — promoted through Telegram channels and outlined a manifesto called the 'Hater's Handbook' — appear to have inspired "multiple real life killings," including one at a school in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier this year which left a 16-year-old student dead.
Since 2022, Chkhikvishvili has made multiple visits to Brooklyn, where he bragged about beating up an elderly Jewish man and instructed others, primarily through text messages, to commit violent acts on behalf of the Maniac Murder Cult, according to court papers.
When he was approached by the undercover FBI agent in 2023, Chkhikvishvili recruited the official to a scheme which 'involved an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities and children at Jewish schools in Brooklyn,' as per the Justice Department.
Describing his "desire" to carry out a mass casualty attack, Chkhikvishvili said he saw the United States as 'big potential" because of accessibility to firearms." He suggested that the undercover FBI agent should consider targeting homeless people because the US government "wouldn't care even if they die."
He was arrested last July in Moldova, where he was held until this week's extradition.
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