People accused of murdering Amutinov, head of Dagestan pension fund, found not guilty in Makhachkala

Today, the court ruling on the case of attempted murder of Amuchi Amutinov, deputy-Premier of Dagestan and manager of the republic's pension fund, has been announced.

The accused Omar Alilov, Askhabali Gazimagomedov, brothers Gazimagomed and Magomed Gairbekovs have been found not guilty.

For reference, the four individuals were charges under articles 277, 205, 222, 223 and 33 of the RF CC. According to the investigation, in autumn 2004 they formed an organized criminal group in Makhachkala in order to attempt the life of Amuchi Amutinov. The investigation had established that, on November 3, 2004, Magomed Gairbekov together with Gazimagomed Gairbekov and other unidentified persons were tracing the movements of Amutinov. Magomed Gairbekov parked the "Oka" car at the corner of Yagarskogo and Bogatyrova streets in the Dagestan capital and triggered the explosive device the moment the armoured "Mercedes" was passing by with Amutinov and two accompanying persons inside. No one suffered as a result of the explosion, but the chairman's car was seriously damaged.

A second attempt on Amutinov's life was on February 16, 2005 in Kizlyar. The moment the armoured "Mercedes" was passing the city centre with Amuchi Amutinov and Ahmednabi Magdigadjiev, secretary of the Security Council, a "Zhiguli" VАZ-2106 parked near the building of the Kizlyar district administration was exploded. As a result of the explosion, the driver of the security service of the RF Pension Fund, Dagestan branch, who was in the accompanying car, and two passers-by died from fragment wounds.

In his interviews, Amutinov himself repeatedly stated he was sure of the defendants' guilt. In particular, in an interview to the "Molodezh Dagestana" (Dagestan's Youth) newspaper he stated: "I am sure that this person (Alilov) is the organizer of the two attempts on my life. Mr Alilov has been exposed in the confessions of Gairbekov who acted as executor. There is a statement and a video cassette where he calls Alilov his customer." Additionally, Amutinov accused Gazi Gaziev, chief of the Makhachkala leg of the North Caucasus railway of being the customer of the attempt. Amutinov stated in court: "Gaziev planned to promote his son to my post." Amutinov has not commented on the court ruling, so far. It is expected that he will make an official statement on this issue today or tomorrow.