Human rights activists report new kidnappings and extrajudicial executions in Dagestan

The HRC "Memorial", which continues its monitoring of human rights violations in Northern Caucasus, was addressed by residents of Dagestan, who informed about two cases of such violations in Dagestan in relation to their relatives in October 2009, namely: kidnapping of Arslanbek Zakaev, a resident of Makhachkala, and extrajudicial execution of several persons in the Khasavyurt District.

According to information of the HRC "Memorial", on October 15 in Makhachkala unidentified persons kidnapped a local resident Arslanbek Bagaudinovich Zakaev, born in 1980.

On that day since morning Arslanbek was at his work. At about 12:30 a.m. he went to a shop to buy some water. Since then, nothing is known about him.

On the following morning Zakaev's relatives took his photo and began interrogating local residents. One of the women said that she saw how a white "Niva" car and two black jeeps stopped near Arslanbek. People in black clothes and masks got out of the cars and began talking with him. It seemed to the woman that Arslanbek disagreed with them. A couple of minutes later, one more car - a white VAZ-2114 drove up to them; people also went out of it. They pushed Arslanbek into the car. Zakaev tried to resist. Eyewitnesses heard him shouting: "Take off your hands!"

The other case of human rights violation, reported by human rights activists, took place on October 2 at about 10:00 p.m. in Toturbi-Kala village, Khasavyurt District of the Republic of Dagestan. Adil Salimgerev together with cousins - Rasul Muratbekov and Rashid Dzhamalov - was in the "Nissan Almera" model car (belongs to Rasul).

On the previous day, Adil arrived to his friend's wedding party from the city of Podolsk, Moscow Region, where he works as a shop-assistant-adviser in "Eldorado" shop.

According to eyewitnesses, four cars without license number plates approached the "Nissan": two black VAZ-2114 cars, a "Lada Priora" and a white (or, under some sources, silvery) jeep. Those who were in the jeep opened the hatch and started shooting from a sub-machine gun at the "Nissan" driver. Adil jumped out of the car crying: "Stop fire! We're unarmed!" However, the attackers opened fire at Adil. According to eyewitnesses, he was struck by about 30 bullets.

Then, the gunmen went out of their car and surrounded the crime venue. They pulled the bodies out of the car and made control shots. They searched the car, but found nothing illegal. After a while, employees of a mobile group of federal power forces appeared. They also surrounded the place of the incident and dispersed the crowd by shooting in the air. However, the eyewitnesses could see that grenades, a pistol and a sub-machine gun were placed into the casualties' hands. Then, the power agents videoed and photographed the bodies and took them away in direction to Khasavyurt.

On the following day the bodies were given out to their relatives. They were told that a criminal case was opened by the Investigatory Committee of the Khasavyurt District on the fact of the murder. Relatives tried to contact the inspector in charge of the case, but failed.

See earlier reports: "Newsweek: "death squadrons" in the Caucasus are backed by local operative agents," "Another rally on Alikhan Dinov's murder held in Dagestan," "President of Dagestan treats statement of HRC "Memorial" about extrajudicial executions as provocation."