In Dagestan, Shamkhal resident reports illegal detention of 33 citizens

On October 29, in the settlement of Shamkhal, Kirov District of Makhachkala, law enforcers detained pretty plenty of citizens. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by local resident Shamsudin Magomedov.

"This morning my daughter left home to go to Makhachkala where she is learning. But she soon returned saying that the house was surrounded by unidentified armed persons in camouflage and masks. I went out and saw that the house was indeed cordoned; they also brought an ATC (armoured troop carrier) with an unjacketed machinegun. Agents turned their sub-machineguns at me and ordered not to get, otherwise they'd use firearms," said Magomedov.

A few hours later his house was visited by several persons in civil clothes and militia uniform, who presented a search warrant and looked for something for an hour; they found nothing and lifted the house blockade. Soon another car with local militiamen came to Magomedov's house and took him away to the police station.

"There were 33 more detained countrymen there. All of them were also suspected as money counterfeiters, but the real reason was that we were all regarded by local militiamen and official clergy as Wahhabites. We were invited one by one into some room, where, despite our objections, we were photographed, and our fingerprints were taken. Two hours later, also without explanations, we were set free, except for three persons, who were beaten and taken to Makhachkala," said Magomedov.

He believes that such methods may push some of the villagers to join the armed underground.