Relatives of Gatagashev, resident of Malgobek, report threats of militiamen

The father of one of the militiamen killed in Ingushetia has announced a vendetta to the family of Artur Gatagashev, resident of Malgobek who is in the wanted list, claims Piatimat Kuzikova, Gatagashev's mother.

The woman explains that her son Artur Gatagashev, born in 1975, is in the wanted list in connection with the terrorist act in the shop of the village of Sagopshi on June 4. She and other relatives of Artur have been informed about this by Nukhazhir Evloev, chief of Malgobek department of internal affairs.

"The entire street can witness that my son visited a relative in our street, he spent all day sitting in the yard and never left anywhere", says Piatimat Kuzikova. "After the explosion we soon learnt that the chief of Malgobek department of internal affairs had named my son among the guilty persons. He said the he would personally catch and kill those who were guilty. In addition he told this to the father of Kostoev, one of the killed militiamen. The man came to us and, according to Ingushetia laws, declared a vendetta on us".

According to the woman, her son and other male Gatagashevs swore on Koran that Artur had been at home during all day on June 4 and had nothing to do with the crime.

Meanwhile, on June 8, Artur's home was visited by federal power authorities and local officers who claimed they were from the FSS.

"Thanks God, my son was not at home that day. They cordoned off the block and forced into the house. I wanted them to show their documents and asked them for the reason of coming? They did not answer but asked where Artur was. Then they clearly claimed that they came in order to kill him. They said to his wife that they pitied her and her children who were to remain without a father, but said: "We have an order to kill him". They were all wearing masks", relays Piatimat Kuzikova.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent could not contact Nukhazhir Evloev and ask him questions to the effect that it was already a third family (Tsechoevs, Gandaloevs and now Gatagashevs) who complained about illegal methods of arrest and investigation practiced by his subordinates.