Georgian national Michail Chkhikvishvili, 21, also known by aliases including “Mishka” and “Commander Butcher,” was extradited from Moldova to the United States on May 22 and is set to be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn today. Chkhikvishvili faces a four-count indictment for allegedly soliciting hate crimes and acts of mass violence in New York City as a leader of an international racially-motivated violent extremist group known as the Maniac Murder Cult (MMC), also referred to as Maniacs: Cult of Killing (MKY).
According to court documents, Chkhikvishvili, of Tbilisi, was arrested in Chișinău, Moldova, in July 2024. He is accused of recruiting individuals to commit violent acts aligned with MKY’s neo-Nazi accelerationist ideology, which promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups deemed “undesirables.” The indictment alleges Chkhikvishvili was instrumental in planning and soliciting a mass casualty attack in New York City.
Top U.S. officials condemned the alleged extremist plot. “This 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,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate hate-fueled violence, and we will pursue those who threaten innocent lives wherever they may be.”
“The defendant is accused of recruiting others to kill Jewish people, kill racial minorities, and of providing instructions on how to commit other lethal attacks — even targeting children around the holidays by poisoning candy,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These allegations are despicable.”
Prosecutors allege that since approximately September 2021, Chkhikvishvili distributed a manifesto titled the “Hater’s Handbook,” which encourages mass violence, including school shootings and using children for suicide bombings. The handbook reportedly details methods for “terror attacks,” such as using vehicles against large public gatherings.
Court documents detail Chkhikvishvili’s alleged activities, including a trip to Brooklyn in June 2022. Starting around July 2022, he allegedly used encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram to encourage violent hate crimes. This included conspiring with the leader of another neo-Nazi group and soliciting an individual who, unbeknownst to Chkhikvishvili, was an undercover FBI employee (UC).
READ: Federal Judge Rejects Florida’s Bid To Dismiss Lawsuit Over Social Media Law
In September 2023, Chkhikvishvili allegedly told the UC that MKY applicants were asked for “brutal beating, arson/explosion or murder vids on camera,” suggesting poisoning and arson as “best options for murder” against “low race targets.”
By November 2023, Chkhikvishvili allegedly began soliciting the UC for specific attacks, providing bomb-making instructions and guidance on Molotov cocktails. A particularly disturbing plot involved a mass casualty attack in New York City on New Year’s Eve, where an individual dressed as Santa Claus would distribute poison-laced candy to racial minorities. This plan later evolved in January to specifically target the Jewish community, schools, and children in Brooklyn with poison, including instructions on making ricin. Chkhikvishvili reportedly shared materials linked to Islamist extremist groups like ISIS and aimed for an attack “bigger than Breivik,” referencing the 2011 Norway attacker.
READ: Chris Cuomo Erupts At Democrats Over Double Murder Of Israeli Embassy Employees
Authorities claim Chkhikvishvili boasted of previous murders committed in Brooklyn in 2022. His incitement is also linked to real-world violence; in August 2024, an individual in Eskisehir, Turkey, livestreamed himself stabbing approximately five people outside a mosque while wearing Nazi symbols. A manifesto attributed to the attacker referenced Chkhikvishvili and his violent statements.
If convicted, Chkhikvishvili faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for solicitation of violent felonies, five years for conspiring to solicit violent felonies, 20 years for distributing information on explosives and ricin, and five years for transmitting threatening communications.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
