Two persons wounded in Dagestan at kidnapping attempt, local resident reports

Yunus Rabadanov, a resident of the city of Izberbash, said today that local law enforcers tried to kidnap him, and wounded him and an occasional passer-by Murad Radjabov.

"I got out of my car to make some shopping. At that moment four armed men dressed in civilian clothes ran up to me; they knocked me down, put a bag over my head and, saying nothing, began kicking me and beating with their rifle butts," Mr Rabadanov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, he managed to push the attackers away, jump into his car, start it and drive off quickly from the place of the incident. "At that moment, they opened heavy fire from their pistols and submachine guns, and I received a through wound of my foot. I managed to get to the hospital, where I was operated on. Murad was wounded by accident, he was just walking beside," said Rabadanov.

According to his story, now he is at home, while Radjabov was placed into the surgical ward. Rabadanov has also noted that the incident could be organized by local law enforcement officers. According to his version, Murad Radjabov recognized two attackers as local militiamen.

"I strictly follow all the Islam canons; maybe people with shoulder straps don't quite like it, although until now nobody ever presented any claims to me," Rabadanov has concluded.

In his turn, Magomed Arslanaliev, Imam of the central mosque of Izberbash, said that he knew about the kidnapping attempt. "I don't know who is behind the incident, but in recent days the situation in the city has become tense. It looks like some forces have appeared here who want to destabilize the situation," said the Imam.

The press service of the Dagestani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) said that they know nothing about the skirmish; the on duty unit of the GOVD (City Interior Department) refused from comments, while the city hospital has confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent the fact of Radjabov's and Rabadanov's address with gunshot wounds.

At the moment they addressed for help, their health condition was quite satisfactory. Radjabov, according to doctors, was hospitalized in order to prevent complications.